England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Nobility -- Fiction
'So he is named Michael Kenton, partly after my own dear brother as
well as the old founder, partly in honour of the day and of Sir
Edward Kenton, who, they say, has been their very kind friend. It
really is a feast to see people so wonderingly happy and thankful.
The little creature has all the zest of novelty to them, and they coo
and marvel over it in perfect felicity. When you will be introduced
to the hero, I cannot guess, for though he has been an earlier
arrival than his mother's inexperience expected, I much doubt her
being able to get out of this place while the way to Botzen is
passable according to the prognostics of the sages. What splendid
studies of ice peaks I shall have! Your affectionate cousin,
'L. BURY.'
A telegram had preceded the letter. One soon followed by Mrs. Bury's
promised note had filled Constance's honest little heart with rapture,
another had set all the bells in Northmoor Church ringing and Best
rejoicing that 'that there Harbut's nose was put out of joint,' a feeling
wherein Lady Adela could not but participate, though, of course, she
showed no sign of it to Constance. A sharply-worded letter to the girl
soon came from her mother, demanding what she had known beforehand. Mrs.
Morton had plainly been quite unprepared for what was a severe blow to
her, and it was quite possible to understand how, in his shyness, Lord
Northmoor had put off writing of the hope and expectation from day to day
till all had been fulfilled sooner than had been expected.
It was the first thing that brought home to Constance that the event was
scarcely as delightful to her family as to herself. She wrote what she
knew and heard no more, for none of her home family were apt to favour
her with much correspondence. Miss Morton, however, had written to her
sister-in-law.
'Poor Herbert! I am sorry for him, though you won't be. He takes it
very well, he really is a very good sort at bottom, and it really is the
very best thing for him, as I have been trying to persuade him.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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