Jabez Oliphant; Or, the Modern Prince. Or, the Modern Prince (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. MAN PROPOSES, BUT GOD DISPOSES. fTlHREE months had gone by, and Fothergill was1 growing more bitter and sarcastic every day. He had no appetite; he could not sleep; he could do nothing but think of Kate Oliphant, in spite of the wise resolution he had previously made about her. He was afraid, too, that he had a rival in the artist, and, by the hints and insinuations he had thrown out one night over a pipe, had succeeded in making Holden examine more closely the state of his feelings towards his pupil. Of Harry Highside William was even more jealous, for, by a little of Mrs. Oliphant's admirable management, the embryo baronet was Kate's constant escort on riding expeditions, and had shown of late a marked improvement in politeness. Fothergill determined, therefore, to take the very first opportunity of declaring himself, and thought he could find one during a picnic which the Oliphants gave in October. It was an excursion to a waterfall among the hills, and the party, which was a large one, after being conveyed in carriages as far as the road served, had then to go on foot through the pastures for the remaining three miles. Before they had walked far, William found his way to the side of Miss Oliphant, who was with Highside and one of the Miss Carltons. "Her Majesty's own weather," he said, in his usual bantering tone, as he came up. "And has not her Majesty's prince of grumblers something to object to in it?" asked Kate. "Might not the sun's fires have a little fresh coal put to them with advantage, or the leaves of yon beech-trees some brighter colour from Mr. Holden's paint-box?" "A nice mess he would make of them --paint them wrong side up, very likely, as Betty Hargraves says he did with the Reinsber valley. But I do wish the ground" (glan...