FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   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   >>   >|  
-giving it to _Her_,--why it looks--uncommon small, and mean, sir." "A ruby, and two diamonds, and very fine stones, too, Sergeant!" "So I made so bold as to--come here sir," pursued the Sergeant still interested in the foliage above, "half an hour afore my usual time--to ask you, sir--if you would so far oblige me--as to--hand it to her--when I'm gone, sir." "Lord, no!" said Bellew, smiling and shaking his head, "not on your life, Sergeant! Why man it would lose half its value in her eyes if any other than you gave it to her. No Sergeant, you must hand it to her yourself, and, what's more, you must slip it upon her finger." "Good Lord! sir!" exclaimed the Sergeant, "I could never do that!" "Oh yes you could!" "Not unless you--stood by me--a force in reserve, as it were, sir." "I'll do that willingly, Sergeant." "Then--p 'raps sir--you might happen to know--which finger?" "The third finger of the left hand, I believe Sergeant." "Here's Aunt Priscilla now," said Small Porges, at this juncture. "Lord!" exclaimed the Sergeant, "and sixteen minutes afore her usual time!" Yes,--there was Miss Priscilla, her basket of sewing upon her arm, as gentle, as unruffled, as placid as usual. And yet it is probable that she divined something from their very attitudes, for there was a light in her eyes, and her cheeks seemed more delicately pink than was their wont. Thus, as she came toward them, under the ancient apple-trees, despite her stick, and her white hair, she looked even younger, and more girlish than ever. At least, the Sergeant seemed to think so, for, as he met her look, his face grew suddenly radiant, while a slow flush crept up under the tan of his cheek, and the solitary hand he held out to her, trembled a little, for all its size, and strength. "Miss Priscilla, mam--" he said, and stopped. "Miss Priscilla," he began again, and paused once more. "Why--Sergeant!" she exclaimed, though it was a very soft little exclamation indeed,--for her hand still rested in his, and so she could feel the quiver of the strong fingers, "why--Sergeant!" "Miss Priscilla,--" said he, beginning all over again, but with no better success. "Goodness me!" exclaimed Miss Priscilla, "I do believe he is going to forget to enquire about the peaches!" "Peaches!" repeated the Sergeant, "Yes, Priscilla." "And--why?" "'Cause he's brought you a ring," Small Porges broke in, "a very handsome ring, you know, Au
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   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   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Sergeant

 

Priscilla

 

exclaimed

 

finger

 

Porges

 

forget

 

Goodness

 

ancient

 
success
 

younger


girlish
 

looked

 

brought

 
cheeks
 

attitudes

 
handsome
 
delicately
 

repeated

 

Peaches

 

peaches


enquire

 

solitary

 
trembled
 

exclamation

 
stopped
 

strength

 

rested

 

paused

 
suddenly
 

beginning


quiver

 

radiant

 

fingers

 

strong

 

Bellew

 

oblige

 

smiling

 

shaking

 
foliage
 
uncommon

giving

 

diamonds

 

pursued

 

interested

 

stones

 

juncture

 

sixteen

 

unruffled

 

placid

 

probable