Violet Jacob > Irresolute Catherine

CATHERINE OPENS THE GATE 161
Mrs. Cockshow had tied on her late
husband’s hat with a new piece of twine
and loaded her person yet more completely
with clothes. Before she climbed into the
antiquated side-saddle on her pony’s back,
she went to the roadside and began to fill
the most accessible of her pockets with
stones. While so engaged, she directed
Catherine, who looked on with astonish¬
ment, to shut the gate and tie the animal
to it. The girl obeyed, and when the-widow
approached, bulging more strangely than
usual, she helped her to mount. Mrs.
Cockshow used the toll bars as a horse¬
block. Then the egg basket was handed
up to her, a switch cut from the hedge,
and Catherine was bidden to attend to
the needs of passers and to suffer no one
to shirk payment. Before the rider was
out of sight, Bungo burst with a yell from
the toll-house and began to follow, raising
a trail of dust as he went.
In one moment Mrs. Cockshow had
21