She undertook all errands to the village
for the sake of such change as a chatter with the young folk there
afforded her, or for the chance of seeing the squire's lady or sons
and daughters go by; and she was wild to go on market days to
Bristol.
In spite of Puritan greyness, soldiers, sailors, gentlemen, ladies,
and even fashions, such as they were, could be seen there, and news
picked up, and Emlyn would fain have persuaded Steadfast that she
should be the most perfect market woman, if he would only let her
ride in on the donkey between the panniers, in a broad hat, with
chickens and ducks dangling round, eggs, butter, and fruit or nuts,
and even posies, according to the season, and sit on the steps of the
market-place among the other market women and girls.
Steadfast would have been the last to declare that her laughing dark
eyes, and smiling lips, and arch countenance would not bring many a
customer, but he knew well that his mother would never have sent his
sister to be thus exposed, and he let her pout, or laughed away her
refusal by telling her that he was bound not to let a butler's
daughter demean herself to be stared at by all the common folk, who
would cheapen her wares.
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