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. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ...there is nothing on earth to sit upon but the old lump of a carpet. The room is strewed about with crockery, and Bell is such a figure She has got on your old checked apron, and when he came in she was rolling up the fire-irons in brown paper. I don't suppose she was ever in such a mess before. There 's one thing certain, --he can't kiss her hand." "It 's you are the goose, Lily." "But he 's in there certainly, unless he has gone out through the window, or up the chimney." "What made you leave them?" "He met me here, in the passage, and spoke to me ever so seriously. 'Come in, ' I said, 'and see Bell packing the pokers and tongs.' 'I will go in, ' he said, 'but don't come with me.' He was ever so serious, and I 'm sure he had been thinking of it all the way along." "And why should he not be serious?" "Oh, no, of course he ought to be serious; but are you not glad, mamma? I am so glad. We shall live alone together, you and I; but she will be so close to us My belief is that he 'll stay there for ever unless somebody does something. I have been so tired of waiting and looking out for you. Perhaps he 's helping her to pack the things. Don't you think we might go in; or would it be ill-natured?" "Lily, don't be in too great a hurry to say anything. You may be mistaken, you know; and there 's many a slip between the cup and the lip." "Yes, mamma, there is," said Lily, putting her hand inside her mother's arm, "that 's true enough." "Oh, my darling, forgive me," said the mother, suddenly remembering that the use of the old proverb at the present moment had been almost cruel. "Do not mind it," said Lily, "it does not hurt me, it...