On Duty (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. 1888 Excerpt: ...excuse me a minute, miss," and Hayles runs out to the mounted customer. Gracie looks at the silk and ribbon, and thinks how very pretty her bag will be. At this moment the lady customer (she is Mrs, Paytchup, the doctor's wife) remarks in a clear tone, "You can put the things together, Mrs. Hayles. You've heard, I suppose, of the battle? What bad news it will be for the Court." (Manvers Court was generally termed "the Court" in the village.) "'Deed, and I haven't, mum; I do hope it's nothing bad." "Well, my husband heard in Mannington this morning there's been a dreadful battle, the savages broke the English square all to bits; there's a long list of killed, and Captain Somers is among them." "Lor no, mum not Sir Norton's brother-in-law, you don't say?" "Indeed, yes; it is a terrible thing I feel so for that poor little girl." What was that rush? It startled the talkers. "A dog," they think, as down comes a pile of tin pails with a crash. Hayles enters the shop with a scared face. "God bless my soul, the child's mad " cries he. "Child --what child?" ask both women. "Little Miss Somers, she's flying along the road like an arier, looking that wild " "She's heard " gasp the women. "Heard what?" Hayles queries, sharply. "Heard Mrs. Paytchup telling me her father's dead--been killed in battle." "0 lor poor little soul " $ "There's a long list of killed, and Captain Somers is among them." They are booming and drumming in her brain with pitiless clearness, these few words. The paralyzing numbness of the first shock has been succeeded by a wild impulse to fly. Away, away--on, on--to be alone--past the lodge, ...