Mollie Darling (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1883. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII. THE ROMANCE OF A KENTISH HOP-GARDEN, 'Creeping and curling, and twisting and twirling, Still working on till it reaches the top; Never despairing, and finally bearing, A lesson of life may be learn'd from the hop.' E. L. Blanchard. Four o'clock is striking as Sir Fitzroy appears at the hall-door. Needless to say, Mollie is not there: perhaps she holds the principle that what you have, you do not value, and therefore thinks that a little waiting will prove beneficial to Sir Fitzroy, and cool his impatience a little. Certainly Sir Fitzroy is a specimen of an English Vol. i. 9 gentleman that any girl might be proud of for a lover. As he stands on the steps, leaning against the old oak door, with its quaint knocker, studded all over as it is by large steel nails, with his hat off, and his dark eyes eagerly watching for Mollie--the woman he loves best on earth--he looks every whit the handsome, gallant man he is. He is fit to win any girl's love--how much more, then, Mollie's, whose fresh, untried heart has responded to his ever since their hands met for the first time the evening of his memorable arrival at Earlston. Mollie is half won already, although she does not know it, nor does he. Very fair is the scene spread out before him: the deer, cows, and sheep, which dot the plain in all directions, lend it life; the rooks overhead are trooping home to their dinners; and there is a deep-blue sky, an ever-varying changing light and shade, which renders the landscape inexpressibly beautiful. It is a real St. Martin's summer, to me the most perfect time almost of the whole year, though all seasons have a separate and distinct beauty of their own. Winter is lovely. How beautiful the world is when one wakes up and finds that Jack Frost has been abroad while w...