The Ffolliots of RedmarleyHarker, L. Allen (Lizzie Allen)
General
The Ffolliots of Redmarley
Harker, L. Allen (Lizzie Allen)
Mate selection -- Fiction; Social classes -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
Small and dark and delicately made, with quick-sighted falcon-coloured
eyes that nothing escaped. Unlike her big, healthy brethren, she was
never in the slightest degree shy or clumsy, and she cared not a single
groat for anyone or anything in the whole wide world so long as she got
her own way. And this, being a member of the Ffolliot family, she did
not get nearly as often as she would have liked. But she understood
her father as did none of the others, and she could "get round him" in
a fashion that filled those others with astonished admiration.
She also considerably astonished Mr Ffolliot, for from the very first
she was familiar, and familiarity on the part of his children he
neither encouraged nor desired. Moreover, she was ubiquitous and
elusive. No army of nurses could restrain the Kitten in her
peregrinations. She could speak distinctly, run, and run fast, when
she was little over a year old, and she possessed a singularly
enquiring mind. She was demonstrative but not affectionate; she was
enchanting, and stony-hearted was the creature who could resist her.
She liked an audience, and she loved to "tell" things. To this end she
would sit on your knee and lay one small but determined hand upon your
cheek to turn your face towards her, so that she could make sure you
were attending. She kept the small hand there, soft and light, a
fairy-like caress, unless your attention wandered. If this happened, a
sharp little pinch quickly diverted your thoughts into the proper
channel. As she pinched you, the Kitten dropped her eyes so that you
noticed how long and black were her eyelashes. Then, having punished
you, she raised her eyes to yours with so seraphic an expression that
you thought of "large-eyed cherubim" and entirely forgot that she had
pinched you at all, unless next day as you looked in the glass you
happened to notice a little blue mark on your cheek. The Kitten could
pinch hard.
She was Ger's greatest joy and his unceasing anxiety. From the very
first he had constituted himself her guide, philosopher . . . and
slave. Yet the dictatorial little lady found out very early in the
day, that in certain things she had to conform to her indulgent
brother's standards, the family standards; and though she might be all
Ffolliot in certain matters, the Grantly ethics were too strong for
her. That Ger should love her, that he should be always kind and
protective and unselfish she took as a matter of course; but she wanted
him to admire her too, and ready as he was to oblige her in most
things, she found that here he was strangely firm. If she told tales
or complained of people, or persisted in tiresome teasing when asked
politely to desist, Ger withdrew the light of his countenance, and the
Kitten was uncomfortable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account