Charles Harcourt, Or, the Adventures of a Legatee Volume 2 (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. 1844 edition. Excerpt: ...best of it is, both of them disclaim all knowledge of the miniature. And now, by the way, how came you here? And where are all the rest of the Bolton set? Off--away home; all, save me, and I staid, not liking to leave you alone. Mr. Bolton was very averse to the arrangement, but I was determined on it, and so got it settled. I made the best I could of your absence, and was obliged to tell all sorts of untruths, which I shall repeat to you when I have leisure. But how is this? continued Harcourt, as he laughed on beholding the indisputable signs of a tumble; and, as they walked towards the village, he obtained from his companion an unvarnished and tolerably minute account of all that had occurred, together with the unavoidable deception voL. II. H he had been compelled to practise; his plans; and, as a natural sequel to the other information, the hitherto carefully concealed fact of wearing the miniature. Though infinitely amused at the recital and accompanying confession, Charles could suggest no better plan than that which Lacy had already devised, and they accordingly agreed to commit themselves to the tender mercies of The Red Lion, --the best inn which the hamlet seemed to possess, --and, after securing a vehicle to carry them to the Hall, order an early dinner, and thereby seek to occupy some portion of the time till the hour should arrive for Lacy to pay his meditated visit to the abode of the fair Florence. It is true that a beef-steak and a glass of very dull-coloured Madeira were not the most sentimental things for a lover to bestow his attention on during such an interval; but, a long drive and an after walk on a clear winter day are far more conducive to hunger than romance; and love of truth...