Author Description

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. 1880 Excerpt:...friend she had, and very sincerely did she welcome his return to Deepdale. Since his dismissal, she had suffered the pangs of complete isolation. None of those by whom she was surrounded cared for her in the least degree. In her illness, servants were her sole nurses. Her imperial mother she rarely saw. A hasty visit, now and then, sufficed for Blanche and Juliana. To be sure, she had her lover. Sir Geoffrey never failed to present himself, once a day, in her apartment. No one knew the precise nature of his affection. It was surmised that her portion, which would be ample, had attracted him more than her person, for the baronetcy to which he had succeeded was much encumbered with debts. As far as mutual sympathy went, and that union of heart and mind which constitutes the real happiness of marriage, I fear they could not exist. Lucy's tastes were intelligent and refined. Sir Geoffrey had but two predilections in the world--horses and dogs. When, therefore, he was paying court to Lucy--that is, sitting in her room, rather wearily, for some half-hour every morning, the conversation was wont to flag. After he had discussed the several points of Juno, his new hunter, or favoured her with the particulars of a steeplechase which had recently taken place in the neighbourhood, he had literally nothing more to say. Then the time seemed to hang heavily on the hands of the two persons about to be joined in the holy bonds of matrimony. After the steeplechase and Juno had both been talked threadbare, the interview would run pretty much as follows:--"Well, Lucy, I hope you are better this morning?" Lucy would reply that she hoped she was. "That's right! We shall have you on horseback some of these days." That was the ultimatum of Sir Geoffrey's ambiti...