Monthly Packet of Evening Readings (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. 1875. Excerpt: ... changed for the early dinner, now by no means early. Other people had nearly finished their meal when she appeared, but there W: ih a place reserved for her between Grandmamma and Mrs. Fanshawe, who was dis posed to pity her a great deal more than necessary for her long fast. It was a little embarrassing, perhaps, for Mrs. Fanshawe would talk to Grandmamma across Rose, all the time she was eating her dinner, about how very much she admired young people who were kind to the poor; and Grandmamma Ingram, who held strong opinions on the unadvisability of young people being made much of under any pretext, gave cut-the-mattershort answers in a dry tone, accompanied by injunctions to Rose to finish her chicken as quickly as possible, and not keep everybody waiting; which made Rose fear she was in disgrace in that quarter. That she was not became apparent, however, when dessert was put upon the table, for while everybody was drinking Lilly's health, Grandmamma took an opportunity of saving that though she disapproved of the extravagantly expensive presents it was now the fashion to give children at Christmas and the Xew Year, and though she had meant to restrict herself to one of her usual useful presents on birthdays, of a new thimble or pair of scissors to a girl, or clasp-knife to a boy; she should this year, to show her approval of Rose's behaviour to Teddy, and to spare dear little Lilly and the other children disappointment, present the schoolroom party with exactly the same gifts as would have been received if Rose had brought her purchases back from the Pantheon instead of Teddy. Rose was called on to give an exact account of the contents of the parcels somebody ran off with, and when Grandmamma heard of the aquarium, and the little piano, and the packets ...