United States or Turkey ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Claudia gazed at her in consternation and horror for a minute, and then again demanded: "What lassie? Who is murdered? For the Lord's sake try to answer me!" "Puir Ailsie! puir wee bit lassie!" wailed the woman. "Ailsie! what has happened to her?" demanded Lady Vincent, bewildered with panic. "She's found murthered!" howled the housekeeper. "Ailsie!
If grit folk gie poor bodies ony thing for coming to their weddings and burials, it suld be something that wad do them gude, I think." "Their gifts," said Ailsie Gourlay, "are dealt for nae love of us, nor out of respect for whether we feed or starve.
But, by and by, she heard a sharp altercation going on in the nursery Norah speaking angrily to Ailsie, a most unusual thing. Both Mr and Mrs Openshaw listened in astonishment. 'Hold your tongue, Ailsie! let me hear none of your dreams; never let me hear you tell that story again! Ailsie began to cry. Mr Openshaw opened the door of communication, before his wife could say a word.
There is no gas lighted in the room, and supper is all set out. 'He'll be off with the spoons! exclaimed Norah, putting the housemaid's fear into words, and preparing to leave the room; first, however, giving a look to Ailsie, sleeping soundly and calmly. Downstairs she went, uneasy fears stirring in her bosom.
"Well, Frisbie, they are gone," said his lordship, looking wistfully into the face of his servant. "Yes, my lord," replied the latter, looking down. "And without discovering the murderer of Ailsie Dunbar," he continued, in a meaning voice. "Yes, my lord," replied the valet, with the slightest possible quaver in his tone.
Early the next summer's morning, Mrs Openshaw was awakened by Ailsie's startled call of 'Mother! mother! She sprang up, put on her dressing-gown, and went to her child. Ailsie was only half awake, and in a not unusual state of terror. 'Who was he, mother? Tell me! 'Who, my darling? No one is here. You have been dreaming, love. Waken up quite. See, it is broad daylight.
Dan turned his black pony and galloped off. "An' come soon!" he shouted back. Out in the quarters Mammy Ailsie, old Tom's wife, was having her own say that night. "Ole Marse Cal Buford pickin' a piece of white trash out de gutter an' not sayin' whar he come from an' nuttin' 'bout him. An' old Mars Henry takin' him jus' like he was quality.
'Norah, come here! The nurse stood at the door, defiant. She perceived she had been heard, but she was desperate. 'Don't let me hear you speak in that manner to Ailsie again, he said sternly, and shut the door. Norah was infinitely relieved; for she had dreaded some questioning; and a little blame for sharp speaking was what she could well bear, if cross-examination was let alone.
Frisbie went on to say that nothing but the terrors of death induced him to become a party to that base conspiracy against the honor of a noble lady, and that he had suffered almost as much remorse for his crimes against Lady Vincent as for his murder of Ailsie Dunbar. All this Mr. Godfree took down in short-hand from the lips of the conscience-stricken man.
"Puir Ailsie! puir, bonnie lassie!" howled the dame, rocking her body to and fro. "Who did it?" gasped Claudia, under her breath. "Ah! that's what we canna come at; naebody kens." "I cannot rest here any longer. Ring the bell, Mrs. Murdock, and hand me my dressing gown. I must get up and go downstairs.
Word Of The Day