FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64  
65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   >>   >|  
hero in the estimation of his fair suppliant. "Accept this favor, Sir Knight, as a token of the sincerity of your lady," said Lady Rosamond, stepping forward with a knot of pale blue silk in her hand. With the brave gallantry of a Douglas, our hero knelt at the feet of her ladyship, and, receiving the favor, in graceful recognition kissed the fair hand that placed it there. "Well done, my boy!" cried Sir Howard, who had been watching the ceremony from an open window, whence he had heard all that passed, and the circumstances which led to it; "you have already shown that spirit which I hope will always characterize my children." After the picnickers had departed Lady Rosamond and Mary Douglas returned to the house, where they were met by Lady Douglas. "My child, are you ill to-day?" said her ladyship; "you are unusually pale, while your eyes have a wearied look." "I do not feel quite well this morning," returned Lady Rosamond, languidly. "You need rest, my dear, after the fatigue of last evening; too much gaiety does not bring a bloom to my Rosamond," said her ladyship, kissing the pale cheek of the lovely girl, adding: "My dear, you must retire to your room, while I prepare a gentle sedative." Lady Rosamond did retire. She also received the cooling draught from the fair hand of Lady Douglas, whose kindness shone in administering to the wants of others. Poor Lady Rosamond's rest could not be gained by the simple sedative. Physical ailments are not the worst form of suffering that afflict humanity. Lady Rosamond was enduring a mental conflict that was crushing in its intensity. The more she tried to baffle its power the more forcibly did it affect her. Vainly had she struggled within herself for aid, but no response. Faint hope dawned in the form of appeal. She now resolved to go to her dear companion with all her trials and tale of suffering. At intervals this hope died away, but in the end gained the mastery. It was this resolve that kept Lady Rosamond from joining in the festive train that set off that morning. It was this resolve that detained Mary Douglas as well. It was this resolve that bade Lady Rosamond to seek the quiet of her chamber preparatory to the trying disclosure. Lady Douglas little divined the cause of those pale cheeks, as she ascribed them to the recent fatigue of an evening. With heavy heart Lady Rosamond prepared for the reception of her confidante. A most beautiful pictu
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64  
65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Rosamond

 

Douglas

 

ladyship

 
resolve
 
fatigue
 

evening

 
suffering
 

morning

 

sedative

 

returned


retire
 

gained

 

baffle

 

forcibly

 

struggled

 
Vainly
 

affect

 

crushing

 

simple

 
administering

Physical

 
ailments
 

conflict

 

intensity

 

mental

 

enduring

 

afflict

 
humanity
 

appeal

 

divined


cheeks

 

disclosure

 

chamber

 

preparatory

 

ascribed

 

beautiful

 

confidante

 

reception

 

recent

 

prepared


detained

 

companion

 

trials

 

resolved

 

response

 

dawned

 
kindness
 

intervals

 

festive

 

joining