United States or Falkland Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
We will hope nobody will take the trouble to pry into our household. . . . And now, Picotee, I want to ask you something something very serious. How would you like me to marry Mr. Neigh? Ethelberta could not help laughing with a faint shyness as she asked the question under the searching east ray.
'Yes, partly; and I like her, too. She is very kind to me. 'You will have a chance of seeing her soon. When the door is nicely open you can look in for a moment. I must leave you now for a few minutes, but I will come again. Menlove departed, and Picotee stood waiting.
A short time after this Picotee was in the company of Ethelberta, and she took occasion to mention Joey's attachment. Ethelberta grew exceedingly angry directly she heard of it. 'What a fearful nuisance that boy is becoming, she said. 'Does father know anything of this? 'I think not, said Picotee. 'O no, he cannot; he would not allow any such thing to go on; she is so much older than Joey.
He looked up, and saw a figure peering down upon him from the top of the park wall, the ground on the inside being higher than the road. The speaker was to the expected Ethelberta what the moon is to the sun, a star to the moon. It was Picotee. 'Hullo, Picotee! said Sol. 'There's a little gate a quarter of a mile further on, said Picotee.
'But, Berta, you are not going to marry any stranger who may turn up? said Picotee, who had creeping sensations of dread when Ethelberta talked like this. 'I had no such intention. But, having once put my hand to the plough, how shall I turn back? 'You might marry Mr. Ladywell, said Picotee, who preferred to look at things in the concrete.
Picotee broke in 'You knew that both Gwendoline and Cornelia married two years ago, and went to Queensland? They married two brothers, who were farmers, and left England the following week. Georgie and Myrtle are at school. 'And Joey? 'We are thinking of making Joseph a parson, said Mrs. Chickerel. 'Indeed! a parson. 'Yes; 'tis a genteel living for the boy. And he's talents that way.
Now you know I've got a rival, perhaps you'll own there must be something in it. 'Yes, that seems like the real thing. But who is the young woman? 'Well, I don't mind telling you, Picotee. It is Mrs. Doncastle's new maid. I called to see father last night, and had supper there; and you should have seen how lovely she were eating sparrowgrass sideways, as if she were born to it.
Picotee did not reply, and Sol turned round. Seeing her he instantly exclaimed, 'What's the matter, Picotee? She explained to him that he was to go back immediately, and meet her sister at the door by the yew, as Ethelberta had charged her. Christopher, knowing them so well, was too much an interested member of the group to be left out of confidence, and she included him in her audience.
Another point is, that we shall live in menagerie style at Knollsea for the sake of the children, and we must do it economically in case we accept Aunt Charlotte's invitation to Rouen; hence, if he or his friends find us out there it will be awkward for me. So the alternative is Knollsea or some other place for us. 'Let it be Knollsea, now we have once settled it, said Picotee anxiously.
'I thought at one time that our futures might have been different from what they are apparently becoming, he said then, regarding her as a stall-reader regards the brilliant book he cannot afford to buy. 'But one gets weary of repining about that. I wish Picotee and yourself could see us oftener; I am as confirmed a bachelor now as Faith is an old maid.
Word Of The Day