Trevlyn Hold, Vol. I of II by Mrs. Henry Wood, Fiction, Literary, Historical 12+

📒 There came, scuffling along the field-path from the village, as fast as her dilapidated shoes permitted her, a wan-looking, undersized girl. She had almost reached the pond, when a boy considerably taller and stronger than the boy on the stile came flying down the field on the left, and planted himself in her way."Now then, little toad! Do you want another buffeting?""Oh, please, sir, don't stop me!" she cried, beginning to sob loudly. "Father's dying, and mother said I was to run and tell them at the farm. Please let me go by.""Did I not order you yesterday to keep out of these fields?" asked the tall boy. "The lane and roads are open to you; how dare you come this way? I promised you I'd shake the inside out of you if I caught you here again, and now I'll do it.""I say," called out at this juncture the lad on the stile, "keep your hands off her."The child's assailant turned sharply at the sound. He had not seen that any one was there.