FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136  
137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   >>   >|  
n the fourth morning depression had taken the place of ill- temper, and he was prepared to allow himself to be petted and waited upon, when, to his dismay, Victor came to his bedroom with the news that the girls had gone up to town, accompanied by Mrs Thornton. "They said, as you preferred to be alone it would be best to keep to their plans," said Victor cruelly. "I am off for a ride, and shall probably make a day of it, and lunch _en route_. I was thinking of going to Barnsley. It is quite a decent-sized place. Would you like me to try if I could find a masseuse for your foot?" Jack looked up sharply; but Victor looked as he usually did. His face was set and expressionless, as it always was when his eyes were hidden. It was natural enough that he should make such a suggestion, seeing that he had heard many lamentations on the subject, natural and kindly into the bargain, yet Jack felt an instinctive unwillingness to accept the offer. "He wants me out of the way," came the leaping thought, while he bit his lip, and appeared to ponder the question. A few days before he himself had heartily echoed the sentiment; but now that Fate--or was it something else?--had interfered to keep him at the Court, Jack's views had slowly altered. It might be that there was a duty waiting for him here, some duty which was even more important than his work in town; and, if he shirked it, the consequences might fall upon others besides himself. The two girls' faces rose before him,-- Ruth's shy and anxious, Mollie audaciously reckless,--children both of them in the ways of the world, though innocently confident of their own wisdom. If by staying on at the Court he could safeguard their interests, it would be well-spent time which he should never regret. To Victor's astonishment his offer was quietly but firmly refused, and he set out on his ride marvelling what had happened to bring about such a sudden change of front. Meantime, Ruth and Mollie were enjoying their first experience of that most delightful feminine amusement--shopping in London. They drove to the doors of world-famed establishments, entered with smiling self- confidence, and gave their orders, unperturbed even by the immaculate visions in black satin who hastened forward to receive them; so marvellous and inspiring are the effects of a purse and a cheque-book behind it! Mrs Thornton was purse-bearer, and, to do her justice, enjoyed the occasion as much
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121   122   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136  
137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Victor
 

Mollie

 

natural

 

looked

 

Thornton

 
wisdom
 
astonishment
 

shirked

 
interests
 

safeguard


regret

 

staying

 
confident
 

anxious

 
quietly
 

audaciously

 
reckless
 
innocently
 

consequences

 

important


children

 

feminine

 

forward

 

hastened

 

receive

 

marvellous

 

unperturbed

 

orders

 

immaculate

 

visions


inspiring

 
justice
 

enjoyed

 

occasion

 

bearer

 
effects
 

cheque

 
confidence
 

change

 
Meantime

enjoying
 

sudden

 
marvelling
 
refused
 

happened

 

experience

 
establishments
 

entered

 
smiling
 

delightful