Jabez Oliphant; Or, the Modern Prince. a Novel Volume 1 (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 edition. Excerpt: ...added to her prayers a heartfelt petition, not without tears, for the happiness of both her friends; but she did not sleep that night nearly so well as usual. 11-CHAPTER VIII. A STORM GATHERS. TAINTON was privileged in being the residence of numerous old maids, most of whom were amiable enough to have deserved a dozen lovers; but the ladies whom Fothergill called the Saints of Stainton lived in three large houses midway between the little market town and Reinsber. Occupying this responsible position, and having borne themselves for thirty years as the native aristocracy of the district, they had snubbed or patronised every one in both places till they were taken at their own estimate and admission to their sober teatables became the blue ribbon of Reinsber society. Some three or four days after the events described in the last chapter, Miss Ayrville, Miss Manby, and Miss Beecroft, the strong-minded spinsters in question, were met in solemn conclave at the house of the first-named lady. It was an old-fashioned gloomy place, with odds and ends of furniture gathered during a life-time, and matched the appearance of Tabitha Ayrville herself, who was verging on seventy and was very tall, big-boned and grim. If you had seen her marching along at her ordinary slow place with the head erect, a cold superiority in the eyes, and a foot as firmly set down as if she were mistress of the whole earth, you would have thought her a tragedy queen rehearsing her part as she walked. But she did not trouble herself to speak much, and was too great to argue, only woe to the poor fellow who ventured to dispute her edicts Not for him were the well-buttered delicacies of the Ayrville muffins, or the sweet voices of the sisterhood. She had cut one acquaintance because...