Winifred's Wooing; And Other Tales (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.1868 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. Little Ailie. Mr. Bertram was talking one day to his cousin's wife about Winifred. His cousin was rector of the parish of Moorfields, which lay some eight miles west of Tunbridge, '--a staid, middle-aged man, with a family growing up about him. He was the only one of Mr. Bertram's kin who lived near to him, and Mr. Bertram was often in the habit of leaving his bachelor's house on Saturday evenings, and riding over to Moorfields to spend his day of rest at the rector's house. So on one of these visits it happened that he sat talking to Mrs. Bertram about Winifred. It was spring now, the beginning of May. Mrs. Murray and Winifred had been away for six months, and two days ago a letter from Aunt Catherine had told Mr. Bertram that they were becoming anxious to return southwards, and settle something about their future life. The Clelands were very kind, but the visit had been a long one now, and both she and Winifred wanted to begin to work. What did Robert think they should do? Mrs. Cleland wished, since they were determined to leave her, that Winifred would try to get some governess's situation near to her, but they had a fancy rather for coming home again. "I am too old, I think, to take to new folk and new places, Robert, and the Yorkshire air is very sharp and cold," Aunt Catherine wrote. And, when she had said all that she wished to say, her letter ended with this trusting appeal--"Tell us what you think. We will do whatever you advise, so you must tell us if we ought to come." "That letter never met Winifred's eyes, or it would not be here now," Mr. Bertram said to himself, with a grim smile, as he finished reading it. But whether or not its contents had had Winifred's assent did not trouble him much: he put it in his pocket, and his first st...