Jaen
Page 31
Si Baldwin, the hired Up Teg flockmaster, is the first man who ever drew Betrisse's eyes to him more than a few times. Now she searches Keeper's Hill for his figure. There!
She smooths back her hair through which a few white threads wind. In a couple of years or so, she will be thirty. The youngest of her boys, George, will be plaguing her to do a man's work.
Then she will be able to go to Winchester.
Vinnie's Jamie looks the most promising to keep Up Teg going. Of course, Fancy would be the best one, but Betrisse hopes that Fancy will continue along the road down which she is beginning to take steps. Fancy long ago absorbed every morsel of learning and knowledge that Betrisse has been able to pass on. Sometimes, Fancy explodes in wonderment whenever she discovers something new, then she throws herself into searching out as much as she can.
Si Baldwin is her teacher now. In the one bag he arrived with he carries ideas that are opening up Betrisse's mind to things that have never occurred to her, and she and Fancy, working close in the dairy, talk of much different subjects than did Vinnie and Jaen. Si Baldwin carries crude pamphlets containing fine philosophy. Ideals and ideas that could set all the ricks in Hampshire burning as they have done in earlier times. Betrisse and Fancy are progressing in the dangerous skill of reading.
Betrisse passes to Fancy the gift of free spirit that Annie once gave to her.
The Up Teg seal now lies in an old splintery box, along with other useless bits and pieces that are never thrown away.
As Betrisse Hazelhurst goes back to her duties, down the steep path of Brack, the flockmaster on Keeper's Hill holds up a hand, half wave half salute.
Betrisse Hazelhurst returns Si Baldwin's salute. In doing so she releases her hold on a kite that she has held on to for years — the Winchester kite, the tearoom kite, it drifts away.