The Woodleighs of Amscote, by Mrs. M. Collins and P. Cotton (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XTI. HE younger members of the Brown family, having found their way over the fence into Rosebank, did not fail to look for further opportunities of doing so, and Arthur having once been in paradise, as he considered, lost no 8 chance of going again, so that in time he was introduced to Mrs. Woodleigh, who had taken great interest in him since she heard of his efforts to study and improve himself; she was, moreover, naturally proud that he should look up to her boy. But it seemed to be mutually agreed amongst the Browns that all these sly visits were not to be mentioned to their parents or Cecilia or Miss Freeman. Nevertheless, incautious words came out sometimes, as, for instance, when Mrs. Loughborough Brown in all her magnificence was just driving up to the great gates from her afternoon airing, there was young Stanley at the side gate hugging a great loaf while the kitchen-maid was taking the bread. Mrs. Brown flew at the child directly she got in, and wanted to know what he meant by taking in bread, and he said he did it at Rosebank. It is probable that the boy found no particular pleasure in taking the loaf from the man, only he associated it with Rosebank, and everything he did there seemed to have a sort of sacredness connected with it. In the same manner he had proposed one day when Miss Freeman talked of going out and Clementina was to preside at the tea-table, that they should have a jolly tea and play at washing up tea-things after, at which Miss Freeman was very properly horrified, and wouldn't hear of anything so vulgar, and Stanley stamped his little foot and said it wasn't vulgar, because they did it at Rosebank. Whereon, of course, Miss Freeman again forbad them to speak to "those people." Then Clementina had...