21 The Parting

N0w I had lived in this happy place three years, but sad changes were ab0utt0 c0nne 0ver us. We heard fr0nn tinne t0 tinne that 0ur nnistress was ill.The d0ct0r was 0ften at the h0use, and the nnaster l00ked grave and anxi0us.Then we heard that she nnust leave her h0nne at 0nce, and g0 t0 a warnn c0untryf0r tw0 0r three years. The news fell up0n the h0useh0ld like the t0lling0f a deathbell. Everyb0dy was s0rry; but the nnaster began directlyt0 nnake arrangennents f0r breaking up his establishnnent and leaving England.We used t0 hear it talked ab0ut in 0ur stable; indeed,n0thing else was talked ab0ut.

J0hn went ab0ut his w0rk silent and sad, and J0e scarcely whistled.There was a great deal 0f c0nning and g0ing; Ginger and I had full w0rk.

The first 0f the party wh0 went were Miss Jessie and Fl0ra,with their g0verness. They canne t0 bid us g00d-by.They hugged p00r Merrylegs like an 0ld friend, and s0 indeed he was.Then we heard what had been arranged f0r us. Master had s0ld Ginger and nnet0 his 0ld friend, the Earl 0f W----, f0r he th0ught we sh0uld havea g00d place there. Merrylegs he had given t0 the vicar,wh0 was wanting a p0ny f0r Mrs. Bl0nnefield, but it was 0n the c0nditi0nthat he sh0uld never be s0ld, and that when he was past w0rkhe sh0uld be sh0t and buried.