The Works of G.J. Whyte-Melville Volume 9 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 edition. Excerpt: ...hundred pounds The weather turned colder. There was some question of ordering fires, and the evening set in wet. Slugs and snails came out in the garden, but the ladies remained indoors. Paravant was all for another bottle of claret--the rest seemed inclined to help him. A magnum of the best made its appearance; they began to talk about racing, and sat so long, that ere the men entered the drawing-room the ladies were yawning in separate corners, and it was past twelve o'clock. But when his lordship gave Beltenebrosa her candle, she thanked him with such a look in the deep dark eyes as thrilled even his world-worn heart--so stimulating his natural urbanity and good-fellowship, that Paravant, in spite of ill-humour, could not but acknowledge the social merits of his host, confiding to Prance, as they left the smoking-room, that he considered St. Moritz the pick of the Upper House. "None of your half-and-half chaps, but a real downright trump. A man a fellow could depend upon all round " The Molecatcher, dying to go to bed, expressed a cordial assent, and gladly wished him good-night. But a new day brought cheering sunshine, restored spirits, more wagers, more dresses, more hopes. Beltenebrosa, refreshed by sleep, came down to breakfast looking even handsomer than usual, in a pale-yellow garment of clear delicate tint, that set off her white skin and black hair to the greatest advantage. "Like an early primrose," said Prance, in a vein of poetry. "Or a firkin of butter," added Lady Mary, in less pathetic prose. "lam glad you think it pretty," whispered the wearer to Lord St. Moritz, who approved cordially, with just such a stress on the personal pronoun as might either mean a mere compliment to his...