Thus she sat for some time in the suspended attitude of an amiable
tiger-cat at pause on the edge of a spring. A rustle behind her caused
her to turn her head, and she saw a strange procession advancing over
the parched fields where--[Two pages of field-scenery omitted.--ED.] One
by one they toiled along, a far-stretching line of women sharply defined
against the sky. All were young, and most of them haughty and full of
feminine waywardness. Here and there a coronet sparkled on some noble
brow where predestined suffering had set its stamp. But what most
distinguished these remarkable processionists in the clear noon of this
winter day was that each one carried in her arms an infant. And each
one, as she reached the place where the enthralled Bonduca sat
obliviscent of her sheep, stopped for a moment and laid the baby down.
First came the Duchess of Hamptonshire followed at an interval by Lady
Mottisfont and the Marchioness of Stonehenge. To them succeeded Barbara
of the House of Grebe, Lady Icenway and Squire Petrick's lady. Next
followed the Countess of Wessex, the Honourable Laura and the Lady
Penelope. Anna, Lady Baxby, brought up the rear.
Bonduca shuddered at the terrible re-encounter. Was her young life to be
surrounded with infants? She was not a baby-farm after all, and the
audition of these squalling nurslings vexed her. What could the matter
mean? No answer was given to these questionings. A man's figure, vast
and terrible, appeared on the hill's brow, with a cruel look of triumph
on his wicked face. It was Thomas Tatters. Bonduca cowered; the noble
dames fled shrieking down the valley.
"Bo," said he, "my own sweet Bo, behold the blood-red ray in the
spectrum of your young life."
"Say those words quickly," she retorted.
"Certainly," said Tatters. "Blood-red ray, Broo-red ray, Broo-re-ray,
Brooray! Tush!" he broke off, vexed with Bonduca and his own imperfect
tongue-power, "you are fooling me. Beware!"
"I know you, I know you!" was all she could gasp, as she bowed herself
submissive before him. "I detest you, and shall therefore marry you.
Trample upon me!" And he trampled upon her.