The Lillingstones of Lillingstone (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. 1873 Excerpt: ...condescended--all that twaddle about fronds, son, and sp6re-cases, and the rachis, was wearisome in the last degree; and when Mildred discovered for herself the very trivial difference between the Aaplenium viride and the Aaplenium trichomanea, and rejoiced therein, she thought her something more than an enthusiast, and very nearly a simpleton. But then Eric must be a simpleton also, to say nothing of Janet; for he was always seeking after ferns, and exulting when a rare specimen came under his observation. He was positively rude one night, Bertha thought, about a very beautiful Scohpendrium, whose species he could not accurately determine. He walked away to the old gardener at the lodge, to consult him on the subject, while she was playing at his own request, made some hours earlier, his favourite airs from "La Sonnambula." Now Eric had made up his mind to be married. His father wished it, his mother wished it, and he wished it very much himself; it only remained to discover the lady who was to crown the happiness of his life. For a young man he was singularly unambitious; he had no desire to shine in the political or in the fashionable world; he wished nothing better than to live quietly at Strathallan to his life's end, serving God in lowliness and pureness of heart, ruling with kindly sway the simple people who, from his cradle, had looked Upod him as their Crown Prince, and enjoying in the depths of his soul the grandeur and beauty of the sublime scenery of his native homo. But his tastes were domestic; and always in his dreams of the future there moved by his side a fair young bride with gentle eyes, and loving tones, and a heart to love him as he, with his strong passionate nature, would fain be loved by the woman he called his wife. Latter...