Jeremy Poldark Read Free

be putting you out"
    With an ironical eyebrow Sir John rose, and
pulled the bell. Wine was brought and polite conversation made while-it was
drunk. They talked of mines and cows and carriages and the broken summer.
Demelza grew easier in manner and Sir John less wary.
    " To tell the truth," said Demelza,
"I think it is the caudly weather that's making trouble with all the
animals. We have a fine cow called Emma: two weeks ago she was yielding rich,
but now the milk's gone into her horn. Same with another, though that was not so
surprising '
    "I've, a fine Hereford, worth a mint of
money," Sir John said. "Calved only for the second time two days ago
and now sick and ill with a paraplegia. Had the cow doctor, Phillips, over five
times. It will break my heart if I have to lose her."
    "Is the calf safe?"
    Oh yes, but it was a bad time. And afterwards
Minta not able to stand. Something is amiss with her teeth too loose in the jaw
and a sort of separation to the joints of her tail. Phillips is completely
defeated, and my own man no better."
    "I mind when I lived at Illuggan,"
said. Demelza, "there was a case like that there. The parson's cow was
taken ill with just that sort of complaint. And after calving too."
    "Did he find the cure?"
    "Yes, sir, he found the cure."
    "What was it?"
    "Well, it wouldn't be for me to say whether
the parson did right, would it? He wasn't above calling; in an old woman,
called Meggy Dawes - she lived just over the stream, I remember. A rare hand at
curing warts and the King's Evil. Once, a boy went to her with a kenning on the
eye. It was a bad one, but no sooner did she,-"
    But about the cow, ma'am."
    "Oh yes. Is she to be seen, Sir John? I'd
dearly like to see her to be sure if it is just the same complaint as in the
parson's cow."
    I'll take you to her myself, if You'll be so
good. Another glass of port to sustain you?"
    A few minutes later they made their way across
the cobbled yard at the back of the house and into the shippon where the cow
lay. Demelza noticed the massive stonework of the outhouses and wished they
were hers. The cow lay upon her side, her soft brown eyes mournful but
uncomplaining. A man rose from a wooden seat and stood respectfully by the
door.
    Demelza bent to examine the cow with, a
professionalism of manner that came from her seven years at Nampara, not at all
from her Illuggan childhood. The animal's legs were paralysed and her tail had
a curious disjointed appearance about halfway along its length.
    Demelza said : Yes. It is exactly the same.
Meggy Dawes called it Tail-Shot"
    "And the cure?"
    "It is her cure, mind you, not mine."
    " Yes, yes, I follow that."
    Demelza passed the tip of her tongue over her
lips. " She said to slit open the tail here, about a foot from the end,
where the joint has slipped, and put in a well-salted onion - then bind it in
place with some coarse tape keep it there about a week, then leave off the
tape. Only a little food once a day, and a cordial made of equal parts of
rosemary, juniper berries and cardamon seeds without their hulks. I remember
well. That's what she said."
    Demelza glanced experimentally at the baronet
Sir John was chewing his bottom lip.
    Well," he said, " I've never heard of
the cure, but then the disease is rare too. You are the first person who seems
to have encountered it before. Damme, I've a mind to try it., What do you say,
Lyson?"
    Tis better'n seeing the animal suffer,
sir."
    "Exactly what I feel I have heard that
these old women are wonders when it comes to the lesser-known distempers. Could
you repeat the instructions to my man, Mrs. Poldark?"
    “With pleasure”. After a minute or two they
walked back across the yard and into the house.
    Sir John said: " I trust Captain Poldark is
keeping in good heart over his coming trial."
    As soon as he spoke he regretted having been so
incautious. One felt that, she had deliberately avoided this subject, so
putting on him the onus of mentioning it. But she did not take up the