WaynfleteColeridge, Christabel R. (Christabel Rose)
General
Waynflete
Coleridge, Christabel R. (Christabel Rose)
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
And with exact memory and considerable force she related the legend of
the loss of Waynflete as she had heard it five years ago from Godfrey;
putting in a vivid description of the eerie old house, and the still
more eerie picture of the unhappy heir, concluding with--
"The eldest one was so like the picture. He is in the business now,
isn't he? I heard he didn't take a good degree. And Godfrey was such a
big boy."
"Well, he is a very big boy still," said Cuthbert Staunton, who had
listened with much interest. "He is a fine fellow, still at Oxford.
Guy is made of rather complex stuff. Perhaps you may see him--he is in
London, and I asked him to look in to tell my sisters about this
moorland paradise."
As he spoke there was a movement, and a fair, slight young man came in,
whom Cuthbert greeted cordially, and introduced as Mr Waynflete.
The five years had not greatly changed him. He had the same slightly
supercilious manner and the same "pretty" wistful eyes, into which, at
the sight of Constancy, there came a startled look.
"I remember Waynflete so well," she said, after the greeting. "Is it as
delightful as ever?"
"I have never seen it since," said Guy; "but the lease is out this year,
and I believe some of us are to go and inspect it. Moorhead is eight or
ten miles off--up on the moors."
"Will you tell us about it, Mr Waynflete," said the elder Miss
Staunton. "We want to go in August. Is it a place where we are likely
to be shot, or glared at by indignant keepers, if we walk about? We
shouldn't like to be a grievance--or to be treated as one."
"No," said Guy, with a smile. "It's only the fringe of the moor, and
there are very few grouse there. I think you'd be tolerated, even if
you picked bilberries and had picnics."
"That's just what we want to do," said Constancy, "picnics on improved
principles. But we shall each have an _etna_, we shan't trust to sticks
and a gipsy-kettle."
"I don't know how young ladies amuse themselves when they're not
reading," said Guy. "But there's nothing to do at Moorhead. It's two
miles from High Hinton, and four from Kirk Hinton, and nine from
Rilston--and it mostly rains up there. But Mrs Shipley's very good at
scones and tea-cakes, and the view is first-class of its kind."
"Then, when it rains, we can put on our mackintoshes, and walk two--or
four--miles to buy postage stamps," said Constancy, rising. "Good-bye,
Kitty, I must be going. Mind you look up your duties as chaperon and
eldest of the party. Mr Waynflete, I'm sure my aunt will be delighted
to see you if you like to call. We are at home on Tuesdays--12, Sumner
Square. Mr Staunton, perhaps we shall see you too?"
The young men made proper acknowledgments, and when Constancy, with no
ladies' last words, had taken her departure, Guy stated that he wished
to hear the evening service at Westminster, and asked his friend to walk
there with him by way of the Thames Embankment.
PART ONE, CHAPTER FIVE.
INTERESTING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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