A HOUSEFUL OF GIRLS. BY SARAH TYTLER,
AUTHOR OF
"CITOYENNE JACQUELINE," "PAPERS FOR THOUGHTFUL GIRLS," ETC., ETC.
LONDON: WALTER SMITH AND INNES, 31 & 32, BEDFORD STREET, STRAND. 1889.
[_All rights reserved._]
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, LONDON & BUNGAY.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. A FLUTTER IN THE DOVE-COT 1
II. THE "COUP DE GRACE" 20
III. THE HEADS OF THE HOUSE LOOK GRAVE 35
IV. THE CRASH 54
V. PROMOTION 72
VI. THE CLOUD DEEPENS 81
VII. ROSE GOES WEST AND ANNIE GOES EAST 106
VIII. STANDING AND WAITING 122
IX. A WILFUL DOG WILL HAVE HIS WAY 136
X. LIFE IN AN HOSPITAL WARD 157
XI. MRS. JENNINGS AND HER DAUGHTER HESTER 182
XII. A YOUNG ARTIST'S EXPERIENCE 188
XIII. MR. ST. FOY'S AND THE MISSES STONE'S 196
XIV. THE OLD TOWN, WITH ITS AIR STAGNANT YET TROUBLED. IS MAY TO BECOME A SCHOLAR OR A SHOP-GIRL? 214
XV. TOM ROBINSON TAKEN INTO COUNSEL 234
XVI. ROSE'S FOLLY AND ANNIE'S WISDOM 257
XVII. MAY HAS TO FIGHT HER OWN BATTLE 288
XVIII. DORA IS THE NEXT MESSENGER WITH BAD TIDINGS 316
XIX. THE UNEMPLOYED--A FAMILIAR FACE 322
XX. REDCROSS AGAIN 342
XXI. MISS FRANKLIN'S MISTAKE 363
XXII. A SHRED OF HOPE 382
XXIII. SECOND THOUGHTS AND LAST WORDS 392
A HOUSEFUL OF GIRLS
CHAPTER I.
A FLUTTER IN THE DOVE-COT.
Is there any sensation equal to that produced by the first lover and the first proposal coming to a girl in a large family of girls? It is delightfully sentimental, comical, complimentary, affronting, rousing, tiresome--all in one. It is a herald of lovers, proposals, and wonderful changes all round. It is the first thrill of real life in its strong passions, grave vicissitudes, and big joys and sorrows as they come in contact with idle fancies, hearts that have been light, simple experiences which have hitherto been carefully guarded from rude shocks.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Houseful of Girls by Sarah Tytler
- 2: And impracticability of girlhood
- 3: Annie hastened to contradict her
- 4: The Millars were the daughters of Dr
- 5: Not one of the Millars was tall not even May
- 6: Robinson's was a positive feature in Redcross
- 7: Low of Tom Robinson to sit down with such a calling
- 8: He had been the doctor in Redcross
- 9: At least the gladiators were strangers and barbarians
- 10: And then took an old fashioned little vinaigrette case
- 11: Remonstrated the disturbed Annie
- 12: There are shopkeepers and shopkeepers
- 13: Said poor Dora hotly and huffily
- 14: Millar also began to look worried as a rule
- 15: Millar's cap to order and setting it right
- 16: All the old Redcross gentle folks
- 17: Tom Robinson is out of the mess
- 18: And Beauchamp was not fit to keep it
- 19: In the choice of Jenny Coppock
- 20: He called a meeting of the Redcross shareholders
- 21: Millar had not even this breathing space
- 22: Millar sank down in a low wicker chair
- 23: Millar was rather inclined to favour Annie and Rose
- 24: Said Dora with earnest trustfulness
- 25: Interrupted Annie with decision
- 26: Millar very literally and meekly
- 27: Annie and Dora remained silent
- 28: Dora and you are not so much older
- 29: Annie took it upon her to answer
- 30: It only closed in more darkly over Redcross
- 31: When their attention was drawn to Mrs
- 32: Carey had hitherto been an indulgent mother
- 33: Millar said might last throughout his life
- 34: Millar brought him into the conversation occasionally
- 35: Neither does it render the man
- 36: But there was a family named Dyer lately settled at Redcross
- 37: Carey would not give Ella any choice
- 38: The Millars were therefore thankful that Mrs
- 39: From the beginning Annie would be
- 40: Millar reproved her daughter with unusual severity
- 41: Millar had been hurt and mortified by Annie's avowal
- 42: Yet what was pretty Annie in the ranks of humanity
- 43: You dropped the tincture as well as your father could
- 44: With the command of all the social advantages which Redcross
- 45: She might have her turn of it at her studio
- 46: Millar appealed to her husband
- 47: Do you suppose Tom Robinson can still be thinking of Dora
- 48: Then why find fault with poor Tom Robinson
- 49: Because my Tray is just a baby terrier yet
- 50: When Redcross was looking its best
- 51: Really Tray is too troublesome
- 52: Leave the truant Tray to his fate
- 53: Tray meandered down the street
- 54: Sooner than see Tray perish unaided before her eyes
- 55: Tray scrambled up the bank presently
- 56: Tray is in excellent health and spirits
- 57: Annie Millar was one of six lady probationers
- 58: When the senses morbidly excited become morbidly acute
- 59: When the acquaintance dwelt in dear old Redcross
- 60: Yet comfortable and kindly Redcross
- 61: Lucy Hewett had been shrouded in white cotton wool
- 62: Generally the sister of the ward
- 63: Another voice a deeper one responded to the Amen
- 64: He turned to Annie who had done all
- 65: She called on God to bless her good Annie
- 66: Jennings and her daughter hester
- 67: When Annie Millar made Hester Jennings's acquaintance
- 68: Rose respected Hester Jennings
- 69: I have had good teachers before
- 70: Hester had her own engagements
- 71: There were fifty pupils among whom she and Hester ranked
- 72: Became gray days of penance to Rose Millar
- 73: Hester defending it with equal vehemence
- 74: It was and Miss Rose Millar laughed
- 75: I never took sel volatile in my life
- 76: Hester looked grave on the instant
- 77: And Dora and May's letters were full of the details
- 78: Dora had only once caught Fanny Russell alone
- 79: In keeping with the clothes becoming shabbier and shabbier
- 80: Millar spoke in another fashion to the little Doctor
- 81: Approached a climax shortly after Cyril left
- 82: Over the fate of Phyllis Carey
- 83: And not engulfed in the needs of the household at Redcross
- 84: But to let her stay and be a shop woman in Redcross
- 85: But all that signifies very little
- 86: Annie always said it was cowardly
- 87: You would have shattered and your spoilt life
- 88: Without self respect or consideration for the Millars
- 89: In order to do like Miss Phyllis Carey
- 90: Dora shook her head incredulously
- 91: Dora told herself with an unsteady laugh
- 92: Annie Millar not only warmed to her work in St
- 93: But for a cab driver who took refuge in his cab
- 94: You must want your own umbrella
- 95: And Miss Millar is well known all over the place
- 96: The boarding house in Welby Square where I stay
- 97: Were you all named from Cromwell's Ironsides
- 98: Jennings liked business to be conducted
- 99: Them Foljambes has done for themselves
- 100: Harry Ironside will have spoken of our encounter
- 101: Jennings and Hester they always treat me
- 102: Ironside and his sister are staying there
- 103: She might compete for one of the Thirlwall scholarships
- 104: Yet disciplined routine of Thirlwall Hall
- 105: But Thirlwall Hall was moulded on the men's colleges
- 106: May was grateful to Miss Vanhansen
- 107: Miss Vanhansen gave her up in disgust
- 108: And for the credit of Thirlwall Hall
- 109: You will do Thirlwall Hall credit
- 110: For the students of Thirlwall Hall
- 111: To do Thirlwall Hall no more than justice
- 112: Annie was saying in glad greeting
- 113: When Annie came in again with a cheerful face
- 114: Nobody has suffered like the Careys
- 115: Dora made the despondent remark
- 116: Dora Millar was not constitutionally sanguine
- 117: Millar with a new brougham and horse
- 118: How awkward they found the tete a tete
- 119: He had seen Rose's work at Redcross
- 120: Would hardly be seen in the streets of Redcross
- 121: As Miss Franklin tells Phyllis
- 122: How happy he might have made Dora
- 123: Pemberton did better than merely say a few words of languid
- 124: Best ventilated situations in Redcross
- 125: Who had come a stranger to Redcross
- 126: And Harry Ironside is silly enough to mind her
- 127: That Harry Ironside took up his residence under Mrs
- 128: Annie smoothed her ruffled plumes
- 129: At least Dora was on the spot to hear each hour's report
- 130: Hewett came to see Tom Robinson
- 131: It was a relief to her when Dora Millar
- 132: Miss Franklin had a natural liking for Dora Millar
- 133: Charles Robinson and his second wife uncle and aunt
- 134: Miss Franklin was not aware that an explanation was needed
- 135: Harry Ironside and Miss Millar
- 136: Cried Miss Franklin indignantly
- 137: Dora seemed so near another world at that moment
- 138: Harry Ironside was indifferent to the wonderful recovery
- 139: You might be the making of a newly founded hospital
- 140: But quite meekly and diffidently for Annie
- 141: Harry Ironside as a suitor for their daughter
- 142: Dora had owned more leisure lately
- 143: And recognize it as my mother's vinaigrette
- 144: For instead of going with Annie to Africa
- 145: The general public of Redcross
- 146: Annie and Harry are not going out to Africa