There was a little smouldering smoke; but the rain had checked the
fire, and though the roof of the house was gone and it looked
frightfully dreary and wretched, the walls were still standing and
the pigs were grunting about the place. However, Steadfast did not
stop to see what was left within, as he knew Ben would be crying for
food, but he carried his foaming pail back to Goody Grace's as fast
as he could, after turning out the cows on the common, not even
stopping to count the sheep that were straggling about.
His sisters were watching anxiously from the door of Goody Grace's
hovel, and eagerly cried out "Where's Jeph?"
Then he had to tell them that Jeph was gone for a soldier, to have
his revenge for his father's death.
"Jeph gone too!" said poor Patience, looking pale. "Oh, what shall
we ever do?"
"He did not think of that, I'll warrant, the selfish fellow," said
Goody Grace. "That's the way with lads, nought but themselves."
"It was because of what they did to poor father," replied Stead.
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