The Mistress of Shenstone (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...niches into proper steps, so as to leave a staircase to the ledge, up which people, who chanced in future to be caught by the tide, might climb to safety. Myra sat on the beach and watched him, her eyes alight with tender memories; but she absolutely refused to mount again. "No, Jim," she said; "not until we come here on our honeymoon. Then, if you wish, you shall take your wife back to the place where we passed those wonderful hours. But not now." Jim, who expected always to have his own way, unless he was given excellent reasons in black and white for not having it, was about to expostulate and insist, when he saw tears 173 on her lashes and a quiver of the sweet smiling lips, and gave in at once without further question. They hired a tent, and pitched it on the shore at Tregarth, Myra telegraphed for a bathing-dress, and Jim went into the sea in his flannels and tried to teach her to swim, holding her up beneath her chin and saying; "One, two ONE, TWO " far louder than Myra had ever had it said to her before. Thus, amid much splashing and laughter, Lady Ingleby accomplished her swim of ten yards. Miss Murgatroyd was shocked; nay, more than shocked. Miss Murgatroyd was scandalised She took to her bed forthwith, expecting Miss Eliza and Miss Susannah to follow her example