The Widow Barnaby. Vol. 1 (of 3)Trollope, Frances Milton
General
The Widow Barnaby. Vol. 1 (of 3)
Trollope, Frances Milton
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Social classes -- England -- Fiction; Widows -- Fiction
The young people could hardly admire Agnes more than they had done
before, though they confessed that they were not fully aware of the
particular beauty of her hair, or of the perfect symmetry of her person,
till they had seen her by daylight; but Mrs. Peters pleaded guilty to
disliking her affectionate sister quite as much on Tuesday morning as
she had done on Monday night; and as the sun shone brightly she took
advantage of this to introduce the subject that was decidedly next her
heart.
"You must take care to put this beautiful day to profit, Mrs. Barnaby,"
said she. "Of course you have heard of our rocks, and our downs, Miss
Willoughby? and you could not look at them through a more favourable
atmosphere.... We shall have time to take you to our famous windmill,
and to shew you some lodgings too, Mrs. Barnaby, for we Bristol people
never sacrifice business to pleasure. I thought of you yesterday morning
when I saw a bill up at Sion Row ... some of the prettiest lodgings in
Clifton, and it will be dangerous to put off looking at them, they are
so very likely to be taken."
The good-natured Mr. Peters felt a great inclination to say that there
could be no need of hurry in looking out for lodgings, as he should be
so very glad to keep the ladies where they were; but, though the most
perfect harmony (real harmony) and good feeling existed between Mr.
Peters and his wife, a very salutary understanding also existed, that
whenever she said anything that he did not quite comprehend, which not
unfrequently happened, he was neither to contradict nor observe upon it
till the matter had been inquired into between them when they were
_tête-à-tête_, upon which occasions he always found her as ready to hear
as to render reasons, and it was rare indeed that the conference broke
up without their being of the same mind.
In conformity to this excellent rule, the good man suffered this
lodging-hunting expedition to be arranged without offering any
objection, and set off on his daily walk to the Bristol exchange, with
no other observation than that he should leave James to escort them, as
he did not think he should find him a very gay companion if he took him
away.
The ladies then immediately dispersed to bonnet and cloak themselves,
and in a few minutes the whole party, amounting to seven, all turned out
upon the broad flagstones of Rodney Place, and dividing into three
couples, with James hanging on upon that of which Agnes was one,
proceeded, headed by Mrs. Barnaby and Mrs. Peters, towards Sion Row.
Before they reached it, however, James called a council with his eldest
sister and Miss Willoughby, upon the necessity of so very large a party
all going to look for lodgings.
"Would it not be better, Mary," said the young man, "for us to take Miss
Willoughby to the down? The others can follow if they like it, you know,
and we shall be sure to meet them coming back."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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