FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   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   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   >>   >|  
o about making visits; the grander the people the better, adapting herself to every one, and talking a sort of sensible scandal, with a superior air of regret; obtaining histories at one house to be detailed at another, and thus earning the character of being universally intimate. The sentiments of the young bride of Martindale had been, throughout her visit, matter of curiosity; and even this tete-a-tete left them guess work. Theodora's were not so difficult of discovery; for, though Jane had never been the same favourite with her as her more impetuous sister, she had, by her agreeable talk and show of sympathy, broken down much of the hedge of thorns with which Theodora guarded her feelings. 'I have been talking to Mrs. Martindale,' Jane began, as they went up-stairs together. 'She is a graceful young thing, and Georgina and I will call on her in London. Of course they will be settled there.' 'I don't know,' said Theodora. 'A notion has been started of his leaving the Guards, and their coming to live at the cottage at Brogden.' 'Indeed!' exclaimed Miss Gardner. 'It is not settled, so don't mention it. I doubt how it would answer to set Arthur down with nothing to do.' 'I doubt, indeed! I have seen a good deal of families living close together.' 'Nothing shall make me quarrel with Arthur, or his wife. You smile, but it needs no magnanimity to avoid disputes with anything so meek and gentle.' 'You can't judge of her; a girl of sixteen in a house full of strangers! Give her a house of her own, and she will soon learn that she is somebody. As long as your eldest brother is unmarried, she will expect to be looked upon as the wife of the heir. She will take offence, and your brother will resent it.' 'And there will be discussions about her,' said Theodora. 'Depend upon it, 'tis easier to keep the peace at a distance. Fancy the having to call for her whenever you go out to dinner. And oh! imagine the father, mother, and half-dozen sisters that will be always staying there.' 'No, Arthur has not married the whole family, and never means them to come near her.' 'There are two words to that question,' said Miss Gardner, smiling. 'Quiet as she seems now, poor thing she has a character of her own, I can see, and plenty of discernment. To be so guarded, as she is, at her age, shows some resolution.' 'Guarded! has she been saying anything?' 'No, she is extremely prudent.' 'Inferring it, then,' exclai
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   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   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Theodora

 

Arthur

 

brother

 
Martindale
 

guarded

 
talking
 

Gardner

 
character
 

settled

 

unmarried


looked

 

expect

 

eldest

 

magnanimity

 
quarrel
 
disputes
 
strangers
 

sixteen

 

gentle

 

question


smiling
 

exclai

 

prudent

 
resolution
 

Guarded

 

Inferring

 

discernment

 

plenty

 
family
 
distance

extremely
 

easier

 
resent
 

offence

 
discussions
 

Depend

 

sisters

 

staying

 

married

 

mother


dinner

 

imagine

 

father

 

coming

 

curiosity

 

matter

 

sentiments

 
impetuous
 

sister

 

favourite