Jump to content

Page:Long pack, or, The robbers discovered (2).pdf/8

From Wikisource
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

8

look after it, before it shall look after him. "But, oh Richard, I tremble to tell you We are all gone for it is a living pack. "A living pack!" said Richard, staring at Alice, and letting his chops fall down. Richard had just lifted his flail over his head to begin threshing a sheaf; but when he heard of a living pack, he dropped one end of the hand-staff to the flour, and leaning on the other, took such a look at Alice. He knew long before that Alice was beautiful; he knew that ten years before, but he never took such a look at her in his life "A living pack!" said Richard. the woman is mad without all doubt." "Oh. Richard! come away. Heaven knows what is in it! but I saw it moving so plainly as I see you at present. Make haste, and come away Richard." Richard did not stand to expostulate any longer, nor even to pull on his coat, but followed Alice into the house, assuring her by the way, that it was nothing but a whim, and of a piece, with many of her phantasies. "But," added he, "of all the foolish ideas that ever possessed your brain, this is the most unfeasible, unnatural, and impossible. How can a pack, made up of napkins, and muslins, and corduroy breeches perhaps, ever become alive? It is even worse than to suppose a horse's hair will turn an eel." So saying,