The Weirdstone of Brisingamen Read Free Page A

miles away, or so it seemed, a twisting column of blue fire, always moving, never ending, alive, and very beautiful.
    Bess Mossock clapped her hands in delight when she saw the Tear on Susan’s wrist. “Oh, if it inner the Bridestone! And after all these years!”
    Susan was mystified, but Bess went on to explain that “yon pretty dewdrop” had been given to her by her mother, who had had it from her mother, and so on, till its origin and the meaning of the name had become lost among the distant generations. She had given it to the children’s mother because “it always used to catch the childer’s eyes, and thy mother were no exception!”
    At this, Susan’s face fell. “Well then,” she said, “it must go back to you now, because it’s obviously a family heirloom and …”
    â€œNay, nay, lass! Thee keep it. I’ve no childer of my own, and thy mother was the same as a daughter to me. I con see as how it’s in good hands.”
    So Susan’s Tear had continued to sparkle at her wrist until that moment at the car, when it had suddenly clouded over, the colour of whey.
    â€œOh, hurry up, Sue!” said Colin over his shoulder. “You’ll feel better after a meal. Let’s go and find Gowther.”
    â€œBut Colin!” cried Susan, holding up her wrist. She was about to say, “Do look!” but the words died in her throat, for the crystal now winked at her as pure as it had ever been.

C HAPTER 3
M AGGOT -B REED OF Y MIR
    â€œA nd what did owd Selina Place want with you?” said Gowther at tea.
    â€œSelina Place?” said Colin. “Who’s she?”
    â€œYou were talking to her just before you came in, and it’s not often you see her bothering with folks.”
    â€œBut how do you know her? She seemed to be a stranger round here, because she stopped to ask the way to Macclesfield.”
    â€œShe did what ? But that’s daft! Selina Place has lived in Alderley for as long as I con remember.”
    â€œShe has ?”
    â€œAy, hers is one of the big houses on the back hill – a rambling barn of a place it is, stuck on the edge of a cliff. She lives alone theer with what are supposed to be three dogs, but they’re more like wolves, to my way of thinking, though I conner rightly say as I’ve ever seen them. She never takes them out with her. But I’ve heard them howling of a winter’s night, and it’s a noise I shanner forget in a hurry!
    â€œAnd was that all she wanted? Just to know how to get to Macclesfield?”
    â€œYes. Oh, and she seemed to think that because we’d only recently come to live here we’d want a lift. But as soon as she saw you she jumped into the car and drove away. I think she’s not quite all there.”
    â€œHappen you’d best have a word with yon,” said Bess. “It all sounds a bit rum to me. I think she’s up to summat.”
    â€œGet away with your bother! Dick Thornicroft’s always said as she’s a bit cracked, and it looks as though he’s reet. Still, it’s as well to keep clear of the likes of her, and I shouldner accept ony lifts, if I were you.
    â€œNow then, from what you tell me, I con see as how you’ve been a tidy step this afternoon, so let’s start near the beginning and then we shanner get ourselves lost. Well, you place wheer you say theer was such a grand view is Stormy Point, and the cave with the hole in the roof is the Devil’s Grave. If you run round theer three times widdershins Owd Nick’s supposed to come up and fetch you.”
    And so, all through their meal, Gowther entertained Colin and Susan with stories and explanations of the things they had seen in their wanderings, and at last, after frequent badgering, he turned to the subject of the wizard.
    â€œI’ve been saving the wizard till the end. Yon’s quite a longstory, and now tea’s finished I