Little Frida a Tale of the Black Forest (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...since the sad night when his only child had gone off to be married at a neighbouring church to the young musician Heinz. But some 83 months before Reginald Gower's return from abroad, during a severe illness which had brought him to the borderland, Mr. Willoughby was aroused to a dawning sense of his own sinfulness and need of pardon, which had, almost unconsciously to himself, a softening effect on his mind. His wife was the first to break the silence at the dinner-table. "Has not Reginald Gower grown more manly and older-looking since we saw him last?" she said, addressing her husband. A shade came over his face as he answered somewhat testily, "Oh, I think he looks well enough Of course five years must have made him look older. But Reginald never was the favourite with me that he is with you, wife; a self-indulgent lad he always seems to me to be." "Well, but surely, husband" (once she always called him father, but that was years ago now), "he is a good son, and kind to his mother." "Well, well, I am glad to hear it. But surely we have some more interesting subject to discuss than Reginald Gower." Mrs. Willoughby sighed. Well she knew that many a time she had a conflict in her own heart to think well of the lad who was to succeed to the beautiful estates that by right belonged to their own child. Dinner over, she sought the quiet of her own boudoir, a room specially endeared to her by the many sweet memories of the hours that she and her loved daughter had spent together there. The day had been a trying one to Mrs. Willoughby. Not often nowadays had they parties at Harcourt 84 Manor, and she was tired in mind and body, and glad to be a few minutes alone with her God. She sat for a few minutes lost in thought; then rising she opened a drawer, and took from it the case which contained the miniature of a beautiful girl, on which she gazed long and lovingly. The likeness was that of the daughter she had loved so dearly, and of whose very existence...