Sweet and Twenty (Volume 2) (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. 1875. Excerpt: ... Now it's a shame to have bored you with this long story, but I met Tom Carteret just before I came here, and I never saw a man look more miserable." "The moral is," said Edith, "that you had better not turn parson to marry a parson's daughter, or doctor to marry a doctor's daughter, or anything of that kind. I hope Mr. Carteret has got his wife with him; I should so like to see one of the eight. But how did he make up his mind which he liked?" "I really don't know. I should imagine that he had to take the one that Mrs. Urgent chose for him, for he is completely governed by her in everything. The last time I rowed past Battlefield I thought I would see how Tom was getting on. I found the house full of female Urgents. The Rev. Uriah had just come in, and smiled benignantly on me, as if he would say, 'Go thou and do likewise.' He is an unctuous man--a sort of halfbreed between a Jesuit and Dissenter." "You are severe, Mr. Hawker," said Edith. "I hate all cant, Miss Tracy." At this moment Miss Litton appeared. "Mr. Hawker," said the little old lady, "I am glad to make your acquaintance. Your mother is a very dear friend of mine, and I often grieve she cannot come to see me, or I go to see her. We shall meet some day, in this world or another." "She lives a quiet life in Cornwall," said Charlie, "and takes the troubles of the world as easily as she can. Ours is a family in which enthusiasm and common sense are curiously mingled. I always feel like the two papers of seidletz, or whatever they call it; I've got to keep the one apart from the other; if they mix, they bubble up." "We will always allow you to bubble up as much as you please," said Miss Litton. "I am quiet enough myself, having had some experience of the follies of life; but I like enthusiasm and en...