The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly (Volume 1 ); To Which Is Added, Diary and Notes of Horace Templeton (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.1894 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII. A DULL DINNER. The family dinner on that day at Castello was somewhat dull. The various attempts to secure a party for the ensuing Saturday, which had been fixed on to celebrate Jack's promotion, had proved failures. When Temple arrived at Longworth's he learned that the host and his guest were from home and not to return for some days--we have seen how it fared as to the L'Estranges--so that the solitary success was Captain Craufurd, a gentleman who certainly had not won the suffrages of the great house. There were two vacant places besides at the table; for butlers are fond of recording, by napkins and covers, how certain of our friends assume to treat us, and thus, as it were, contrast their own formal observances of duty with the laxer notions of their betters. "Lord Culduff is not able to dine with us," said Colonel Bramleigh, making the apology as well to himself as to the company. "No, papa," said Marion; "he hopes to appear in the drawing-room in the evening." "If not too much tired by his long walk," broke in Jack. "What walk are you dreaming of?" asked Marion. "An excursion he made this morning down the coast, sketching or pretending to sketch. Nelly and I saw him clambering up the side of a cliff--" "Oh, quite impossible; you must be mistaken." "No," said Nelly, "there was no mistake. I saw him as plainly as I see you now; besides, it is not in these wild regions so distinguished a figure is like to find its counterpart." "But why should he not take his walk? why not sketch, or amuse himself in any way he pleased?" asked Temple. "Of course it was open to him to do so," said the Colonel; "only that to excuse his absence he ought not to have made a pretext of being ill." "I think men are 'ill' just as they are 'out, '" said Temple. "I...