Category: Novels
"What is your letter, my dear? You seem annoyed. _No_ bad news, I hope," said the master of Chedworth Manor, looking across the table to where his wife eat behind the urn, frowning over the sheet which she held in her hand. She was a handsome, well-preserved woman, with aquili...
One dark December morning Theo found a letter lying on her plate on the breakfast-table; not the long, white envelope addressed in her own writing, which her soul abhorred, but...
7. CHAPTER SEVEN.Theo was pressed into the service to write the words of the song for Miss Caldecott, and composed a graceful little ditty which was sufficiently touching even to the spinster mi...
17. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.Half-an-hour passed by, fraught with the deepest suspense and anxiety to the waiting party in Number 10; then Philippa's step was heard running up the stairs, and in she came, w...
4. CHAPTER FOUR.Two months later the plunge was taken. The Charrington family said good-bye to their picturesque country home, and established themselves in the top flat of a massive red buildi...
19. CHAPTER NINETEEN.A year after the Charringtons had taken possession of their flat, the girls sat in conclave and reviewed the situation. Philippa "submitted" her accounts with the usual unpleasa...
3. CHAPTER THREE.Mr and Mrs Loftus arrived by the morning train, and drove up to The Cottage in the ancient village fly. Uncle Edward wore a black band round his hat; Aunt Gertrude an elaboratel...
21. CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.The next morning, when the four sisters were seated at breakfast, Steve entered and stationed himself before the fire to read a long, business-looking letter. His exclamations o...
22. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.Ten days passed by and brought no news of Barney. Steve devoted every spare moment to the search, the Hermit was unremitting in his efforts, but with the best will in the world...
23. CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.It can be imagined with what eagerness Steve was greeted on his return from the City that evening, how he was hurried through his dinner, and despatched forthwith, in company wi...
8. CHAPTER EIGHT.Theo's pride made her represent the interview with Mr Hammond in its most favourable light to her sisters. He was satisfied that she had the makings of a successful author, was...
12. CHAPTER TWELVE.It was with the exultation of a child on a holiday that Hope prepared to start for the picnic lunch the next day. Hitherto she had watched the departure of the other ladies with...
10. CHAPTER TEN.A week later Hope travelled down to Norfolk with the united fineries of the family in her box, a mind stored with good advice from the stock of worldly wisdom of her sisters, an...
2. CHAPTER TWO.Stephen Charrington had expressed a wish to consult with his aunt and uncle less from any preconceived intention than from a feeling of helplessness which took possession of him...
9. CHAPTER NINE.Barney's infectious spirits were a godsend to his sisters, who, truth to tell, were beginning to experience a reaction from their first elation, and to realise how many weary ru...
15. CHAPTER FIFTEEN.The next morning Hope and Theo seated themselves at the piano, and tried over the songs which were to be included in the musical recital. The words had been written to fit certa...
5. CHAPTER FIVE.A week after the girls had taken possession of the flat Stephen joined them, and spent his evenings carpentering, hanging up pictures, and laying carpets, as a pleasant relaxati...
20. CHAPTER TWENTY.Over a week elapsed before Madge was able to carry out Barney's suggestion and offer the race-course advertisement to the tobacconist who had been mentioned as a likely purchase...
6. CHAPTER SIX.Miss Caldecott was tall and stout, had wavy hair and arched eyebrows, and wore a slightly _decollete_ gown of blue silk, a trifle soiled if you looked at it in a critical spirit...
18. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.And so the weeks went by, and the eventful evening came round at last. Hope attired herself in the white dress in which she looked charming enough to enrapture any audience, sea...
1. CHAPTER ONE."What is your letter, my dear? You seem annoyed. _No_ bad news, I hope," said the master of Chedworth Manor, looking across the table to where his wife eat behind the urn, frown...
13. CHAPTER THIRTEEN.Truda was very silent all the way home; in plain words, she sulked, and refused to give more than monosyllabic replies to Hope's gentle overtures. When the house was reached she...
11. CHAPTER ELEVEN.Three days passed, and Hope thoroughly enjoyed the novel experience of life in a crowded and constantly changing household. Certain of the guests were fixtures, among whom were...
16. CHAPTER SIXTEEN.Acting on the rule of all good housewives, Philippa breathed no word of the unpleasant incident of the afternoon until dinner was over, and the workers had been fed and rested a...
14. CHAPTER FOURTEEN.The little flat looked bright and cheery when the traveller reached home. A new lampshade had replaced the one which Mary had burned, sixpence-worth of flowers were displayed to...