The Two Aristocracies Volume 1; A Novel (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. 1857 Excerpt: ...to her by Miss Barneson, Rhoda Lambert vowed a vow in her heart of hearts, not only that she would never again bestow a doit on such ingrates; but that to the city to which even an obscure village held itself superior, she would return no more. Rather sit like the banished Peri at the gates of Paradise, --rather wander away her young days within view of the delicious glades of Arden Park, with the Elizabethan chimneys of the Hall rising imperiously above its ancient oaks, --than live among tradesmen and manufacturers, amidst the smoke, uproar, evil savours, and vexatious contentions of the Bracknell Works. Sufficient was the annoyance of hearing tidings of these things, when Barneson, and occasionally even Terrier, (who was supposed to be working his way to a share in the firm of Lambert and Co., ) arrived at the Manor House for a Sunday visit. Whenever it was possible, she pleaded indisposition as a pretext for avoiding their company. When forced to endure it, she sat storing up disgusts and harsh determinations for her future guidance. CHAPTER XIII. The aversion, apparently, was not mutual. " Black eyes or blue?" inquired Ferrier jocosely, one evening, of Mark, as they were driving back to Birmingham, after a summer day spent with the family at Arden. " It is almost time you made up your mind between them, to enable the future Mrs. Barneson to select the paper and curtains for the new drawing-room " With perfect candour did Mark assure his companion that he troubled himself as little about black eyes or blue, as about the choice of drawing-room carpets. The 180-horse power engine, about to be despatched to Odessa, occupied all his thoughts. " Tell that to the Marines," cried Ferrier, who had been indulging in an extra glass of s...