Take Courage

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Book: Read Take Courage for Free Online
Authors: Phyllis Bentley
smile stole over David’s face. Francis then pulled down Tabby, and began to try and make dog and cat friendly, rubbing their noses together and the like, and David laughed a little at this, though timidly.
    While we were all kneeling thus together on the ground, I heard a movement, and looking up, saw John standing in the doorway, we having left the door open. There was a strange look on his dark plain face, a mixture of anger, contempt and affection. I bade him come in and welcome, and he said gruffly he could not stay long, he was on his way home from school. Our house was not in the way from Bradford School to Little Holroyd at all, and I feared lest Francis should say so; however, he made no remark, but throwing himself down on the settle, which Sarah quickly dusted with her apron, he took Tabby in his arms and made Thunder sit by him with his great head on his master’s knee, and continued his attempts to make them like each other. Indeed Thunder was willing enough, laying his great paw gently on the cat and seeming almost to smile over his puppy face, but Tabby’s fur was still erect, and her green eyes glowed angrily. I now remembered my manners and offered John a chair, but he seemed too shy to take it, and sat himself awkwardly on a buffet.
    The settle on which Francis was lounging was splintered at its foot, and John, spying this as he looked about him with his kind brown eyes, now offered to mend it, forgetting that he had said he could not stay. I was doubtful at first, for neither Will nor my father had much skill in carpentry and I was not used to seeing such work, but Sarah was very eager for him to try his hand, and bustled about fetching him such tools as she could discover. The settle was heavy and ill-placed for light, and John asked me to hold a candle for him so that he could manage better. Pleased, as children are, to be doing something new, I lighted a candle and bent down to him, gladly obeying his directions, Davidwatching eagerly. I soon saw that John was able at the work, and exclaimed at his skill and kindness in performing it. At this he lifted his face, crimson from stooping, and remarked gruffly:
    â€œWhile you hold the candle, Penninah, I am content.”
    â€œIt’s a high payment, certainly,” laughed Francis, caressing Tabby so that she purred.
    â€œHigher than you’ll ever earn,” said John, sardonic.
    â€œDon’t be too sure,” cried Francis hotly.
    â€œYou’ll never addle owt in all your life, Francis Ferrand,” said John, using the homely country speech to vex his cousin.
    â€œI have no need,” said Francis haughtily.
    â€œNo—you’re a gentleman, or so I’ve heard,” said John.
    â€œI don’t like your tune,” said Francis. He rose, throwing down the cat, and stood over John, flushing ominously.
    â€œHold the candle still, Penninah,” commanded John, and he put his hand on my wrist to steady it, for at the thought of further contention between these two my fingers trembled.
    Then Francis shook the settle purposely with his foot, and John sprang at him, and they rolled over and over on the floor, wrestling and striking. David and I cried out, frightened, and my father ran down from the loom-chamber again at the noise, and with a look of gentle displeasure on his face ordered them to behave more mannerly. At the sound of his voice the two boys disentangled themselves and rose up, dusty and panting and regarding each other sheepishly, but not, as I saw with relief, really angry. My father dismissed them sharply, and they went out without a word.
    I ran to the window to watch them up the street; and saw that Francis had thrown his arm round John’s shoulder and was laughing in his ear, while John, though somewhat grimly, was smiling. Seeing my surprise at this sudden reconciliation, my father told me I was not to trouble myself over their battles. It was natural for boys to fight, he said, and

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