The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Forgotten Hero, by Emily Sarah Holt

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Title: A Forgotten Hero
Not for Him

Author: Emily Sarah Holt

Illustrator: H. Petherick

Release Date: October 20, 2007 [EBook #23119]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A FORGOTTEN HERO ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

A Forgotten Hero, or, Not for Him, by Emily Sarah Holt.

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This shortish book takes us to the end of the thirteenth century, and,
although the people in the book are mostly high-born, the scene is a
very domestic one. It gives us a good understanding of the way life was
lived in those days. Recommended for its social interest.
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A FORGOTTEN HERO, OR, NOT FOR HIM, BY EMILY SARAH HOLT.

CHAPTER ONE.

CASTLES IN THE AIR.

"O pale, pale face, so sweet and meek, Oriana!"

Tennyson.

"Is the linen all put away, Clarice?"

"Ay, Dame."

"And the rosemary not forgotten?"

"I have laid it in the linen, Dame."

"And thy day's task of spinning is done?"

"All done, Dame."

"Good. Then fetch thy sewing and come hither, and I will tell thee
somewhat touching the lady whom thou art to serve."

"I humbly thank your Honour." And dropping a low courtesy, the girl
left the room, and returned in a minute with her work.

"Thou mayest sit down, Clarice."

Clarice, with another courtesy and a murmur of thanks, took her seat in
the recess of the window, where her mother was already sitting. For
these two were mother and daughter; a middle-aged, comfortable-looking
mother, with a mixture of firmness and good-nature in her face; and a
daughter of some sixteen years, rather pale and slender, but active and
intelligent in her appearance. Clarice's dark hair was smoothly brushed
and turned up in a curl all round her head, being cut sufficiently short
for that purpose. Her dress was long and loose, made in what we call
the Princess style, with a long train, which she tucked under one arm
when she walked. The upper sleeve was of a nar