hand she held a bunch of green ivy.
The strong and bold bridegroom wore a red swallow tailed coat, with a
green silk sash tied in front. He had black knickerbockers and white
woollen socks, and black dressing slippers, and he carried a bowler in
his hand.
When they arrived at the church the marriage was splendid, but the bare
legs of Burke were not much appreciated.
For the wedding breakfast they had several cups of Bouillon Fleet, and
eight of Bovril. They had six Vanilla cream puddings and strawberry ices
by the score; but they kept the blinds drawn down in case vulgar little
boys should loom in and say "give us a slice," while the leg of pork was
being cut.
For their honeymoon, they went to the south of India, and seven hours
after they got there they had two twin babies, a boy and a girl which
they called Abraham and Sarah, because they were fond of those holy
saints.
So we will say goodbye to this two chaptered story.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF LESLIE WOODCOCK
To
DEAREST MOTHER
FROM
DAISY ON HER BIRTHDAY
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCING THE FAMILY
"Sylvia Sylvia" cried a man's voice in the hall. "Where is that child?"
"Coming" answered the child for so she was always called by her Uncle
Richard although in years she was close on 19.
And she turned to obey the summons, a deep flush mounted to her usually
too pale cheeks, and lighted up her whole countenance.
Sylvia Monton was little more than a baby when her parents were both
drowned whilst on their way to India where Captain Monton was to join
his regiment. So little Sylvia was left an orphan and her mothers only
brother Richard Earlsdown came forward to take charge of her being a
bachelor and possessing no children of his own.
At the time our history opens Sylvia was a tall thin girl with a fair
and saddened face, which was only enlivened by the sky blue of her
eyes--she had golden hair which she wore combed back from her white and
noble forehead and arranged in heavy waves round her small and shapely
head--a small rosebud mouth which when wide open displayed 2 rows of
pearly white teeth. Small white hands adorned by 3 golden rings and a
tiny round nose which she daintily touched now and again with a lace
hankerchief.
It was 3 oclock on a dismal afternoon late in February and the place was
on the boarders of the Sussex downs.
"What a rainy day for our walk Uncle" sighed Sylvia as she approached
her uncle who was stil
|