The Project Gutenberg EBook of Rossmoyne, by Unknown

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Title: Rossmoyne

Author: Unknown

Release Date: March 3, 2010 [EBook #31492]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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ROSSMOYNE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF
"PHYLLIS," "MOLLY BAWN," "PORTIA," ETC.

"Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach?--
Speak, nephew, were you by when it began?

"Here's much to do with hate, but more with love."--

ROMEO AND JULIET.

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO

BUTLER BROTHERS

TROW'S
PRINTING AND BOOKBINDING COMPANY,
NEW YORK.

ROSSMOYNE.

CHAPTER I.

How a Dove-cot was fluttered in Rossmoyne.

The old-fashioned clock is ticking loudly, ponderously, as though
determined to betray the flight of fickle time and impress upon the
happy, careless ones that the end of all things is at hand. The roses
knock their fragrant buds against the window-panes, calling attention to
their dainty sweetness. The pigeons coo amorously upon the sills
outside, and even thrust their pretty heads into the breakfast-room,
demanding plaintively their daily crumbs; but no one heeds.

A deadly silence has fallen upon this room at Moyne, albeit life is
fully represented here, and two eyes, in which the light of youth is
quenched, are looking anxiously into the two other eyes that have also
seen the best and the sweetest of their days.

Hopelessly the golden roses scatter their petals. In vain the white and
tawny birds entreat backsheesh. To no purpose does the elderly clock
count out its numbers. The urn is hissing angrily, the two cups of tea
so carefully prepared are growing cold. So are the crisp little hot
cakes, so is the----

No! by the bye, it isn't! Honey can't. What a chance I was near giving
the reviewers!

One bird, growing annoyed at the prolonged quiet, flies from the open
window to the back of Miss Penelope's chair, and settles there with an
indignant flutter and a suppressed but angry note. This small suggestion
of a living world dest