FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   391   392   393   394   395   396   397   398   399   400   401   402   403   404   405   406   407   408   409   410   >>  
as more than one tear glistening on the fair firm flesh. "Let us call her 'King Charles,'" exclaimed the eldest boy, as the gallant little vessel moved down the stream; while the children, who not ten minutes before were trembling with alarm at their grandfather's displeasure, now, with the happy versatility of youthful spirits, shouted gaily at the ship's progress over the unrippled waters. "You will call it by no such name," said Dalton gravely. "Yonder comes your mother, and she or your father can best christen your little ship." The old man, who had launched their fairy boat, turned towards where once Cecil Place had stood. From some peculiar feeling in the bosoms of Sir Walter and Lady Cecil, for which it would not be difficult to account, only a portion of the old structure remained--sufficient, and just sufficient, to lodge Robin, and Robin's wife, and Robin's father-in-law, and Robin's children. The fine old gateway was fast crumbling to decay, and, indeed, it was well known that a kindly sentiment towards the Buccaneer decided Sir Walter on keeping even so much of the place standing, as the old man's only wish now was to die in the Isle of Shepey; and it will be readily believed that Hugh Dalton's wishes were laws to the family of Cecil. The trees had in many places been levelled, and the only spot which remained perfectly untouched in the gardens was one called "The Fairy Ring." The neighbouring peasantry believed that it was hallowed by some remembrance of which both Lady Cecil and Barbara partook; for the latter tended every herb and flower therein with more than common care--with perfect devotion. Did we say there was but one spot cherished? faithless historians that we are! there was another--a rustic temple; and, about ten years before the period of which we now treat, something resembling an altar had been erected therein, with a quaint device carved in white stone, a braid of hair encircling two hearts, and a rhyme, or, as it was then called, a posy, the words of which are not recorded, but were said to have been written by Lucy Hutchinson, as a compliment to her friend Constantia Cecil. The old man, as we have said, turned towards Cecil Place, which then presented only the appearance of a small and picturesque dwelling. Issuing thence were two persons whom we may at once introduce as the manikin, Robin Hays, and the little Puritan, Barbara Iverk, of our story. Manikin, indeed! He of the gay pin
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   391   392   393   394   395   396   397   398   399   400   401   402   403   404   405   406   407   408   409   410   >>  



Top keywords:

Dalton

 

turned

 
Barbara
 

believed

 

called

 

sufficient

 

remained

 

Walter

 

father

 
children

devotion

 

perfect

 
common
 

manikin

 

Puritan

 
cherished
 

faithless

 

introduce

 

neighbouring

 

gardens


levelled

 
perfectly
 

untouched

 

peasantry

 

hallowed

 
flower
 

tended

 
remembrance
 

partook

 
Manikin

quaint
 

places

 

written

 
device
 

erected

 

compliment

 
Hutchinson
 

carved

 

recorded

 
encircling

friend

 

dwelling

 
picturesque
 

rustic

 

temple

 

Issuing

 
hearts
 
persons
 

Constantia

 
resembling