Hugh Crichton's Romance

Arthur went away from the Rectory whistling gaily, and succeeded in catching Hugh before he started for Oxley. Hugh was a good but not a very keen sportsman, and the rabbits wer...

"Then he sat down, sad and speechless, At the feet of Minnehaha-- At the feet of Laughing Water-- At those willing feet that never More would lightly run to meet him, Never more...

The bells of Saint Michael's Church were ringing a joyous peal as Violante set foot in Oxley. There had been a wedding in the morning, and the bells were honouring the bride wit...

Madame Cellini was not likely to be shy of making a new acquaintance, nor were her young companions accustomed to the profound seclusion in which Italian girls are usually train...

In the still grey silence of early morning Arthur awoke slowly, and with a confused sense that things were not as usual. He looked round the room. It had been a hot night, and t...

"I am sewing a button on Arthur's glove," returned Mysie, who was sitting by herself on a low chair in the window with a smart little work-basket by her side. "Do you know, Flos...

After Mrs Dysart's party there ensued a fortnight of intensely hot weather; so close and sultry that it wore a shade or two of pink even off Flossy's rosy cheeks and accounted p...

Signor Mattei was coming out from a rehearsal. He often told Violante that her work was nothing to his; and, indeed, his violin was always in its place in the orchestra. His wor...

Mr Grey lived in a good-sized house in one of the newest squares in South Kensington. He had prospered in the world since his sister's marriage, and having himself married a lad...

"Violante! Will you never learn common-sense? Your want of manners will give perpetual offence. And let me tell you, English people of influence are not patrons to be despised....

The Rectory drawing-room window was open to the sunshine, and Mrs Harcourt was standing by it, waiting for Flossy. But Arthur turned aside from it, and went round to the door in...

"Because I ought to set before you that you might do much better for yourself. You have seen very few people, and I ought not to let you act upon impulse," said Hugh, in the dri...

After that stormy summer, with its joy and its suffering, its excitement and hard work, there ensued for Violante a time of perfect peace. Golden autumn sunshine, beautiful plac...

Easter was now drawing near, but, owing to the approaching Confirmation and one or two other reasons connected with the girls' studies, though some of the pupils went home, ther...

Redhurst was entirely unused to absenteeism. Mrs Crichton had scarcely ever spent five months together away from it in her life, and now she seemed to have taken with her all th...

While Violante was in London James Crichton, at some happy juncture, brought his wooing to a crisis, and became the accepted lover of Helen Hayward. His choice was equally surpr...

Under the great walnut-tree on the lawn the three Miss Vennings were assembled in consultation. The Manor House possessed one of the most enchanting gardens that the past has ev...

Hugh Crichton was at this time in the sort of humour which, dignified by the name of misanthropy, would have admirably suited, one of those interesting and uncomfortable heroes...

"We have tried to make her so," said Flossy, as Rosa withdrew from Violante's clinging embrace to look into her face and read its story. "Now, Violante, make your sister comfort...

A great sorrow affects the lives of many other people besides those most immediately concerned, and this not only in the greater or lesser degrees of grief that it may cause, or...

Between the date of Hugh Crichton's return from Italy and the day when he was left alone to set up for himself in the old Bank House barely two months elapsed. Those days that h...

Rosa's fears were fulfilled. For a few days, with the help of her sister's teaching, Violante struggled on a little more bravely; but Rosa's lessons, however carefully conned at...

The little maiden cometh, She cometh shy and slow, I ween she seeth through her lids They drop adown so low. She blusheth red, as if she said The name she only thought.

So sang Florence Venning as she danced down the empty school-room at Oxley Manor on the 3rd of August. The last young lady had driven from the door--even the French governess ha...

While the bright southern sunshine was filling the old palace with its rays; and while, beneath the blue Italian sky, Hugh Crichton was arranging Violante's flowers; the same fa...

It was on a soft mild afternoon early in February that Arthur came home--an afternoon with a pearly sky and gleams of pale spring sunshine to light the starry celandines and bud...

The scene of Violante's first party was a great rambling house in Kensington--half old, half new--with odd passages and corners, and steps up and down; incongruous, and yet comf...

Rosa Mattei was sitting by herself in her aunt's drawing-room. That afternoon Violante was expected to arrive from Oxley, and the next day they would meet Signor Mattei at the l...

"Wed a maiden of your people," Warning said the old Nokomis; "Go not eastward, go not westward, For a stranger whom we know not! Like a fire upon the hearth-stone To a neighbour...

During the weeks that were so comfortless and disturbed at Redhurst, Violante's school-life went on, on the whole, peacefully; but, still, with various ups and downs of feeling-...

The Redhurst drawing-room was looking uncommonly cheerful on the Saturday week after Arthur's return; and Jem, recently arrived, was enjoying an unwonted _tete-a-tete_ with his...

The fearful ordeal was over; the first night had come and gone, and the earth had not opened to swallow Violante up; the disgraceful tears had been successfully controlled; and...

Hugh Crichton walked away from the musician's apartments towards the railway station, where he had promised to meet his brother. His tweed suit and large white umbrella were obj...

The weather favoured the choir festival at H--and the production of spring dresses for the occasion. James cast critical eyes on his mother's bonnet and on Frederica's hat; and...

The heavy walls of mist slowly lifted themselves, and the purple mountain-sides showed dark and close at hand. The passionate rush of the mountain torrents sounded full and free...

James Crichton was spending a few days at home, with a view to the proposed oratorio at H--, which was to take place the week after Easter. He was, however, obliged to go up to...

The sunshine of a summer evening was bathing Civita Bella with an intensity of beauty rare even in that fair Italian town. When the shadows are sharp, and the lights clear, and...

"Rosa! you were mistaken! He loves me--he says so. Oh, I am so happy-- he is so good!" cried Violante, as she ran to meet her sister and threw herself into her arms. Timid as th...

That same Sunday afternoon Signor Mattei walked slowly into Caletto, and seeking the lodging where he knew that his daughters were staying sat down under the verandah, with the...

Left to herself! In the early morning Violante's senses awoke from the confusion of disturbed and dreamy sleep; and, with burning eyes and throbbing temples, she sat upright and...

James Crichton had a certain taste for peculiarity, and anything unexpected and eccentric attracted him as much as it repels many other people. He piqued himself on his liberali...

Oh, the lute, For that wondrous song were mute, And the bird would do her part, Falter, fail and break her heart-- Break her heart and furl her wings, On the inexpressive strings.

Towards the end of August Florence Venning returned from a visit to her brother, eager, of course, to hear the details of the wonderful event that had taken place during her abs...

It was a wintry morning, with pale sunshine struggling through the retiring fog. In the centre of the Greys' pretty drawing-room, among all the ottomans, tables, and nick-knacks...

way, or else study for years; and how could you pay for getting yourself taught? You might ask Mr A--," mentioning an eminent actor of well-known kindness and respectability; "h...