Ralph remembered that here had lived a well-known Royalist, whom the
Parliament had dispossessed of his estates. The people of this valley
had been ardent Parliamentarians during the long campaign. Could it be
that his lordship had been repossessed of his property, and was taking
this means of revenging himself upon his tenantry for resisting the
cause he had fought for?
An old man lay by the hedge looking down to the ground with eyes that
told only of despair. A little fair-haired boy, with fear in his
innocent face, was clinging to his grandfather's cloak and crying
piteously.
"Get off with you and begone!" cried the factor, rapping out another
volley.
"Is it Hollowbank you call this place?" said Ralph, looking the fellow
in the face. "Hellbank would be a fitter name."
The man answered nothing, but his eyes glared angrily as Ralph put
spur to his horse and rode on.
"God in heaven!" cried Ralph when Sim had come up by his side, "to
think that work like this goes on in God's sight!"
"Yet you say the best happens," said Sim.
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