Page 76 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

Giggling children, each carrying a squirming puppy, tramped across the farmyard. They stopped in a line at the open side of the shed. Their father joined them, carrying a large wooden box. Puppy noses poked up over the sides of the box. Their mother joined them, her nose in the air, staring at her puppies. She looked into the shed, spied Miss Elizabeth and hastened across to the visitor, her tail wagging furiously.

“Hello, there, Mrs. Rosie,” Miss Elizabeth said, holding down her hand to be licked. “We have come to look over your pups.”

Mrs. Rosie turned around, tongue lolling, and sat next to Miss Elizabeth’s chair, leaning her weight against the chair leg, and looking across at her puppies.

“I’ll put ‘em down,” Mr. Godbed said, following through. As soon as the box settled on the stone floor, the four puppies inside climbed out and began to sniff everything in sight. The children put their puppies on the ground, too. “There’s seven left, three females and four males.” He looked apologetically at Darcy. “I’m sorry, sir, but the children have named ‘em all. Y’can change the name, out-of-course, if you choose t’have one of the little rascals.”

Darcy nodded, busy watching the puppies’ antics. He had always been a strong believer in choosing the animal that wanted you. He saw that several puppies had more interest in the humans than in what they might discover on the shed floor.

“They look healthy,” Darcy observed.

“I will look them all over,” Miss Elizabeth said, standing now and putting on the apron she had brought. “Janice, will you be my helper today?”

“Aye.” The little girl hurried readily over. “Do y’want me to bring ‘em t’ye one at a time?”

“Yes, please,” Miss Elizabeth said. She sat on her chair once more, spreading her apron evenly across her lap.

“Here, miss,” Janice said, depositing one puppy on Miss Elizabeth’s lap.

She began to examine the dog, looking in its ears, feeling its body, pressing her ear to the animal and listening intently. After she had completed her examination, she handed the puppy back to Janice.

“Take this little girl to Mr. Darcy,” Miss Elizabeth directed, “and then bring me another one. Thank you.”

Darcy took the soft, squirming puppy in his arms. He petted her and she licked his chin. He looked into her amber eyes and knew that Georgiana would love any one of these seven puppies. She will likely want to take them all home.

“Are all these puppies for sale?” he asked his host.

“Aye,” Mr. Godbed said, nodding. “The squire’ll take any we cannot sell, ‘cause he’ll bring ‘em up t’hunt.”

“Excellent,” Darcy murmured, handing the one he held over to the farmer before he took the next one—a male. This puppy had no interest in him at all. He simply wished to be put down on the ground. “Not this one,” he said, passing him over to one of the boys. “I think he wants to be a hunting dog.”

“I agree,” Miss Elizabeth said. She addressed Mr. Godbed. “Please separate out the ones we do not wish to show Miss Georgiana. Perhaps we can put a ribbon or a string around the likely puppies?”

“Aye, we can do that,” Mr. Godbed said.

“May my sister and I visit tomorrow afternoon?” Darcy asked, accepting another puppy. This one licked him prodigiously. “I think a string for this one.”

“Tomorrow afternoon will do fine,” Mrs. Godbed said.

“You are so kind,” Darcy said.

In this manner, they eliminated all the puppies save three—two males and one female. String appeared and soon adorned the right puppies, then the children helped return them to the barn. Mrs. Rosie padded after them.

Once they drank another glass of mint tea, Darcy and Miss Elizabeth prepared to take their leave. Before his companion could don her gloves, the farmer cleared his throat.

“Miss?”

“Yes, Mr. Godbed?” Miss Elizabeth asked, her eyebrows high.

“Would ye mind very much lookin’ over me sow?” he asked.

Miss Elizabeth gazed up at Darcy. “May we spare a few minutes?”

“Certainly,” he said, and watched her traipse across the barnyard to the stye, her head cocked to one side as she listened to the farmer explain the problem.

“She’s a wonderful catch, that one is,” Mrs. Godbed told him. She passed him a damp cloth to wipe his hands. “Knows so much about animals, she does. I think it’s a God-given gift.”

“Every good gift comes from God,” Darcy said, a considering frown on his brow. “Did she tell you her dog brought a guinea pig home?”