She was enlightened the next day when Colonel Brownlow brought his
phaeton to fetch Allen home over the smooth park road. He told her
that the Goulds were freeholders who had owned River Hollow from time
immemorial, though each successive lord of Belforest tried to buy
them out. The alienation between them and Mr. Barnes, the present
master, had however much stronger grounds than these. His nephew and
intended heir has stolen a match with the old man's pretty daughter,
and this had never been forgiven. The young couple had gone out to
the West Indian isles, where the early home of her husband had been,
and where he held some government office, and there fell a victim to
the climate. Old Mr. Gould had gone home to fetch his daughter and
her child, but the former had died before he reached her, and he had
only brought back the little girl about two years ago.
Mr. Barnes ignored her entirely, and the Goulds, who had a good deal
of pride, did not choose to apply to him. It was very unfortunate,
for unless he had any other relations the child must be heiress to
his immense wealth, though it was as likely as not that he would
leave it all to hospitals out of pure vindictiveness.
They found Allen out of doors attended by the three little girls, all
eagerly watching the removal of a sheep-fold.
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