The Angry Tide by Winston Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

the exiles meet two or three times a year. It is called the Cornish Club. I think we have come to be a little on each other's nerves, but I have to tell you he has not attempted to influence my conduct in the House so long as I support Pitt on most major issues.'
    The children were racing now. Jeremy had outstripped Clowance's fat little legs and Clowance, it seemed likely, was going to go into a sulk.
    'And you are home, Ross, for all the summer?' 'All the summer. And I hope you have something good for dinner. Last night - and the air this morning - has made me hungry.'

Chapter Four
I
    Since the persecutions instituted by Mr Tankard at Mr George Warl eggan's suggestion ceased, Drake Carne's business had prospered. Even in times of war, even in times of scarcity, even in times of depression, people needed a blacksmith, especially one who could also make a serviceable wheel. Drake had had the great advantage when he began of taking over a going concern, even if run down; there had not been any need to create a new connection in the face of opposition. 'Pally' Jewell had been there forty years before him; the difference was a young man in place of an old.
    It was sourly observed of Methodists that they prospered more than other men. The reason was simple: once they had truly laid hold of the faith they eschewed gambling, wenching and, for the most part, drinking, so that, aside from their religious meetings, they had not much else to do but work. While regarding this world's goods as of secondary importance, Wesley had never for a moment forbidden his followers to prosper, so long as they did so in a godly and modest and sober way. And this was happening to Drake, and faster even than most; for the loss of Morwe nna left him without the solace of a wife and the distraction of a family. He worked. From dawn till dark - and often after by candlelight, he worked. With the shop went six acres of land, and this he farmed, mainly growing animal feed which he sold to the big hous es round. (Not of course, to Tre nwith.) He kept chickens and goats and a few geese. When for any reason business slacked off he made spades and shovel and ladders, and the mines bought them from him. Recently he had taken on two undersized boys of twelve, the Trewinnard twins, as assistants. He was putting money in the bank, not because he felt it was any use to him, but because he had to put it somewhere, Sam, his brother, still came every Tuesday and Saturday and stayed and talked a while and prayed with him. Drake had broken away from full participation in the life of redemption, and, although still a member of the Connexion, he had never returned to it in the way Sam would have liked and nightly prayed for. Sam, whose religion had been the cause of liis failure to win Emma Tregirls, pursued it with unremitting zeal, and saw no cause to abate his conviction that divine love ruled and must continue to rule the spirits of those who dwelt in Christ, He would gladly and joyfully have married Emma unredeemed; Emma, though she loved him, could not accept the fact that she needed redemption.
    One day Drake received a note from Demelza asking him if he could spare a few hours to put in a new fireback she had bought for the library. 'I have not seen you at all th is month,' she wrote, 'We have been so Busy haymaking the Storm all but ruined one field but the rest was in and thanks be the ricks stood the strain. Ross is back from London looking so pale as if he had been living in a Vault but well and he has already made his mark upon the House of Commons. Though he denies it. Have you time to take a meal with us? You know four people who would like it among them your loving sister Demelza .'
    The boy was waiting - it was Benjy Ross Carter, now thirteen, with a scar on his face, though on the other cheek, not unlike that of the man he had been named after - so Drake said he would be over about four the following Wednesday, On the Wednesday, having left the forge in