The Reluctant Widow

But I do not want to be a widow!" declared Elinor. "I am afraid it is too late in the day to alter that." said Carlyon. "Besides, if you had known my cousin better you would have wanted to be a widow," Nicky assured her.

Crawley, I do trust that you have rung that bell, for if I stand in this disagreeable wind you know I shall take cold, and my colds always descend upon my chest. How thoughtless it was in you to have handed me down from the chaise until the door had been opened! Ah, here is that deplorable henchman! Yes, Barrow, it is I indeed. Take my hat – no, Crawley had best take my hat, perhaps. And yet, if he does so, who is to assist me out of my greatcoat? How difficult all these arrangements are! Ah, a happy thought! You have laid my hat down, Crawley! I do not know where I should be without you. Now my coat, and pray be careful! Where is a mirror? Crawley, you cannot have been so foolish as to have packed all my hand-mirrors! No I thought not: hold it a little higher, I beg of you, and give me my comb! Yes, that will serve, Barrow, you may announce me to your mistress!

You will be a widow before the morning.

Bouncer, recognizing a well-wisher, got up, and thrust his cold, wet nose under her hand, assuming as he did so the soulful expression of a dog who takes but a benevolent interest in cats, livestock, and stray visitors.

I dare say you would not be in the least moved if you came to-morrow, and found us all lying dead in our beds!’ she said bitterly. ‘On the contrary, I should be a good deal surprised.’ She could not help laughing. ‘Odious creature! Very well, I see you have a heart of stone, and I waste my time in useless entreaties

What a nonsensical thing it would be in me to allow myself to become alarmed by a trifle such as murder!

Do you know, it has of late become an ambition of mine to hear my name on your lips instead of my title

Ned! if you don’t tell me, it will be quite shameful of you! You always know everything!’‘Yes, Nicky, but you think I know everything because I never tell you anything I am not quite certain of,’ Carlyon replied, looking back at him with his faint smile. ‘What a sad blow it would be to my vanity if you found I could be just as easily mistaken as anyone else! You must let me keep my own counsel until I am certain.

Nicky beguiled the morning by taking Bouncer to a neighbouring farm, and engaging in a rat-hunt which might have been more successful had not Bouncer jumped to an over-hasty conclusion that his first duty was to rid the world of the flea-ridden terrier who should have assisted him in his work of destroying all the rats in the big barn.

My Lord Bedlington had not kept company with the Regent for years without acquiring a hard head and the digestion of an ostrich. Mellow he might become, and indiscreet stories he certainly told, but not his worst enemy would have accused him of being foxed.

is a source of constant wonder to me how I came to have such a cork-brained parent. However, I have not the slightest reason to believe that my poor mother played him false. It must remain an enigma.

Yes, Nicky, but you think I know everything because I never tell you anything I am not quite certain of

He was at that stage in his development when, without having giving up all hope that the wonderful would happen, only a part of his eager brain expected it.

bloodshed, and, indeed, all forms of violence! Even

Indeed, my fear is that my overbearing, self-willed ways may have given you a distaste of me which not all my future efforts may serve to eradicate.

He wore very tight Inexpressibles, and very high and rigidly starched shirt-points, which made it hard for him to turn his head; and when he bowed a slight creaking betrayed that a swelling paunch was confined by stays.

Bouncer suddenly achieved popularity with Mrs Barrow by catching a large rat in the larder, whither he had repaired in search of something to maintain his strength during the night watches. Mrs Barrow was moved to bestow on him a large ham-bone. He subsequently hid this under Elinor’s bed, and his recollection of its whereabouts in the middle of the night, and insistent demands to be admitted into her room, were all that occurred to spoil her rest that night.

It may seem famous to you,’ retorted Elinor, with some tartness, ‘but I can assure you it does not to me! I have not the smallest desire to be married to your odious cousin!

Well, it was sufficient to explain it all to me,’ Carlyon admitted. ‘Once a performing bear had entered Nicky’s orbit the rest was inevitable.

is my very ardent desire to be permitted to pay my addresses to you