United States or Micronesia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
After that we had some part-singing of good old glees, like "The Chough and Crow," "Here in cool Grot," and the ever-beautiful "Dawn of Day." We then separated, after the pleasantest of evenings, when it was close on midnight: Miss Pimpernell's party had been emphatically a social success. Of course I walked home with Min.
I only just managed to catch the European packet, so I could not write a very long letter on this occasion as I had also to answer the vicar's and Miss Pimpernell's communications; but I said quite enough, I think, to let my darling know, that, although she had not been able to hear from me directly before, she had never been out of my thoughts.
She then left my side, taking Miss Pimpernell's arm and saying something about having a long chat with her. The end of it was that she had her way. I had to go back to search for the curate and ask his pardon, like a dog with its tail between its legs. I was certain he would exult over it, and he did. He had not the generosity to meet me half-way and accept my apology frankly at once.
To receive an epistle from him was an event! And, what do you think he wrote to me about? What, can you imagine, made dear little Miss Pimpernell's lengthy missive scribed as it was in the most puzzling of calligraphies of so engrossing an interest, that I read it again and again; valuing it more than all her previous budgets of parish gossip put together, entertaining as I thought them before?
Sometimes, too, I met her at Miss Pimpernell's, or out walking: thus, in a short time, I learnt to know all her little plans and wishes, and her sentiments about everything. Her likes and dislikes were my own.
It is true that I had dear little Miss Pimpernell's letters; but what could they be in comparison with letters from Min? although, of course, the kind old lady would tell me all about her, and how she looked, and what she said, in order to encourage me?
Mrs Clyde had checkmated me, again, there. Had it not been for Miss Pimpernell's pleadings, I think I would now have gone against her advice, and brought matters to an issue by another proposal before the year was out. My better judgment, however, restrained me from this, when I reflected over all the circumstances of the case in more reasoning moments.
He's got some good influence with the ministry; and, with mine in conjunction, the two of us together ought to manage it, eh, Sally?" "And how soon do you think, sir," I asked, "would you be likely to procure it for me? I've been a long time idle; and, I am, now, anxious, you know, to make up for lost time." Miss Pimpernell's words had thoroughly spurred me up.
Hence, arose the mistake of my confounding the two names, both of which commenced with a "D" which it was a wonder that I saw at all, it being Miss Pimpernell's weakest capital! But, I knew now who had really got the handkerchief thrown by the Sultan of Downing Street; while Lizzie Dangler was yet free to bless some more sagacious swain.
In one instance, she had mentioned so I deciphered the intelligence something about Horner marrying, as I thought, Lizzie Dangler; but, I now found out from Min, that my Downing Street friend was engaged only, not married; and, that the object of his choice was Seraphine Dasher, instead of the former young lady the error being easily explainable in the fact, that all of Miss Pimpernell's capital letters, with the exception of her "B's" and "H's," bore a close family resemblance to each other; while, the remaining components of her words were composed of a single dash, and besides that, nothing.
Word Of The Day