Violet Jacob > Irresolute Catherine

ACTION
115
“ Try if ye can’t ’obble,” said she, as they
stood clinging together.
The girl obeyed and found that by
resting her whole weight on her companion’s
shoulder she could move forward, and the
two set off towards the toll as best they
could. It was painful work, but relief at
the discovery that her bones were whole
gave Catherine courage, and her white lips
were taking a little colour as they neared
the house. Above the conspicuous window
was a black board which displayed in white
lettering, ‘ Maria Cockshow, Tollkeeper ’;
and as Catherine saw it she remembered
hearing that a tollkeeper’s widow from
Herefordshire, of whose looks and dealings
rumour had strange tales, was in charge of
one of the gates near Losbury. It was,
presumably, on the shoulder of this person
that she now leaned.
At their approach a white, smooth-haired
dog of dubious ancestry burst from regions
behind the toll, and with the indecent