A 'Leal, Light Heart' (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. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ...at all in a position to judge for ourselves. They may be ashamed, but I am not I am only thankful--most thankful, that my eyes are opened in time." "Go on, Gwenevere," said Emily, quietly, "say the rest of your lesson. These words are not your own." "I have learned no lesson--I have only learned to know my own mind. And--and--oh, can you not guess, Emily? You are very unkind. I have promised to marry Harold." Emily looked at her once, and then her eyes went down, and her face glowed crimson. Any one would have thought, to look at them, that she was the culprit, making a shameful confession, as she knelt before that queenly figure in the armchair. After a short silence, during which Gwenevere never moved, Emily rose and went back to her seat. "Gwen," she said softly, "you don't mean me to believe this of you?" "I do, certainly. And I sincerely hope, Emily, that you will try to be reasonable, and to look at things in a sensible way yourself. Mrs. Darnell was much to blame for" "Oh, Gwenevere, don't You can't be so changed all in a moment from what you once were. By-and-by you will be so ashamed of these words. Think of all the love and care and motherly thought that Mammie spent upon us all these years If we had been her own daughters, she could have done no more." "If we had been her own daughters, Claud Beresford and--Mr. Vincent would have been very suitable partis for us." "That comes from Aunt Gundred. You are an apt scholar, Gwenevere. But you will please to leave Claud's name out of the question altogether. My education not having advanced as far as yours, I might get angry." "You are angry as it is," said Gwenevere. "If I were...