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man in England？ I naturally enough begged for an explanation； but
my neighbor at the table only smiled and said； 'If you can find
an opportunity； ask her what happened at The Black Cottage； and
you will hear something that will astonish you。' I acted on the
hint as soon as I had an opportunity of speaking to her
privately。 The lady answered that it was too long a story to tell
then； and explained； on my suggesting that she should relate it
on some future day； that she was about to start for her country
home the next morning。 'But；' she was good enough to add； 'as I
have been under great obligations to you for many Sundays past；
and as you seem interested in this matter； I will employ my first
leisure time after my return in telling you by writing； instead
of by word of mouth； what really happened to me on one memorable
night of my life in The Black Cottage。'
〃She faithfully performed her promise。 In a fortnight afterward I
received from her the narrative which I am now about to read。〃
BROTHER OWEN'S STORY
OF
THE SIEGE OF THE BLACK COTTAGE。
To begin at the beginning； I must take you back to the time after
my mother's death； when my only brother had gone to sea； when my
sister was out at service； and when I lived alone with my father
in the midst of a moor in the west of England。
The moor was covered with great limestone rocks； and intersected
here and there by streamlets。 The nearest habitation to ours was
situated about a mile and a half off； where a strip of the
fertile land stretched out into the waste like a tongue。 Here the
outbuildings of the great Moor Farm； then in the possession of my
husband's father； began。 The farm…lands stretched down gently
into a beautiful rich valley； lying nicely sheltered by the high
platform of the moor。 When the ground began to rise again； miles
and miles away； it led up to a country house called Holme Manor；
belonging to a gentleman named Knifton。 Mr。 Knifton had lately
married a young lady whom my mother had nursed； and whose
kindness and friendship for me； her foster…sister； I shall
remember gratefully to the last day of my life。 These and other
slight particulars it is necessary to my story that I should tell
you； and it is also necessary that you should be especially
careful to bear them well in mind。
My father was by trade a stone…mason。 His cottage stood a mile
and a half from the nearest habitation。 In all other directions
we were four or five times that distance from neighbors。 Being
very poor people； this lonely situation had one great attraction
for uswe lived rent free on it。 In addition to that advantage；
the stones； by shaping which my father gained his livelihood； lay
all about him at his very door； so that he thought his position；
solitary as it was； quite an enviable one。 I can hardly say that
I agreed with him； though I never complained。 I was very fond of
my father； and managed to make the best of my loneliness with the
thought of being useful to him。 Mrs。 Knifton wished to take me
into her service when she married； but I declined； unwillingly
enough； for my father's sake。 If I had gone away； he would have
had nobody to live with him； and my mother made me promise on her
death…bed that he should never be left to pine away alone in the
midst of the bleak moor。
Our cottage； small as it was； was stoutly and snugly built； with
stone from the moor as a matter of course。 The walls were lined
inside and fenced outside with wood； the gift of Mr。 Knifton's
father to my father。 This double covering of cracks and crevices；
which would have been superfluous in a sheltered position； was
absolutely necessary； in our exposed situation； to keep out the
cold winds which； excepting just the summer months； swept over us
continually all the year round。 The outside boards； covering our
roughly…built stone walls； my father protected against the wet
with pitch and tar。 This gave to our little abode a curiously
dark； dingy look； especially when it was seen from a distance；
and so it had come to be called in the neighborhood； even before
I was born； The Black Cottage。
I have now related the preliminary particulars which it is
desirable that you should know； and may proceed at once to the
pleasanter task of telling you my story。
One cloudy autumn day； when I was rather more than eighteen years
old； a herdsman walked over from Moor Farm with a letter which
had been left there for my father。 It came from a builder living
at our county town； half a day's journey off； and it invited my
father to come to him and give his judgment about an estimate for
some stonework on a very large scale。 My father's expenses for
loss of time were to be paid； and he was to have his share of
employment afterwards in preparing the stone。 He was only too
glad； therefore； to obey the directions which the letter
contained； and to prepare at once for his long walk to the county
town。
Considering the time at which he received the letter； and the
necessity of resting before he attempted to return； it was
impossible for him to avoid being away from home for one night；
at least。 He proposed to me； in case I disliked being left alone
in the Black Cottage； to lock the door and to take me to Moor
Farm to sleep with any one of the milkmaids who would give me a
share of her bed。 I by no means liked the notion of sleeping with
a girl whom I did not know； and I saw no reason to feel afraid of
being left alone for only one night； so I declined。 No thieves
had ever come near us； our poverty was sufficient protection
against them； and of other dangers there were none that even the
most timid person could apprehend。 Accordingly； I got my father's
dinner； laughing at the notion of my taking refuge under the
protection of a milkmaid at Moor Farm。 He started for his walk as
soon as he had done； saying he should try and be back by
dinner…time the next day； and leaving me and my cat Polly to take
care of the house。
I had cleared the table and brightened up the fire； and had sat
down to my work with the cat dozing at my feet； when I heard the
trampling of horses； and； running to the door； saw Mr。 and Mrs。
Knifton； with their groom behind them； riding up to the Black
Cottage。 It was part of the young lady's kindness never to
neglect an opportunity of coming to pay me a friendly visit； and
her husband was generally willing to accompany her for his wife's
sake。 I made my best courtesy； therefore； with a great deal of
pleasure； but with no particular surprise at seeing them。 They
dismounted and entered the cottage； laughing and talking in great
spirits。 I soon heard that they were riding to the same county
town for which my father was bound and that they intended to stay
with some friends there for a few days； and to return home on
horseback； as they went out。
I heard this； and I also discovered that they had been having an
argument； in jest； about money…matters； as they rode along to our
cottage。 Mrs。 Knifton had accused her husband of inveterate
extravagance； and of never being able to go out with money in his
pocket without spending it all； if he possibly could； before he
got home again。 Mr。 Knifton had laughi