Silverbeach Manor by Margaret S. Haycraft

Author:Margaret S. Haycraft
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, romance historical, orphan girl, romance 1800s, romance 1890s, christian fiction christian romance heartwarming

Chapter 10

Old Acquaintance

MISS ASHBURNE is graciously pleased to approve of Firlands, having found the air beneficial when companion to a much-quoted dowager-duchess. At the close of a lovely day, at the sunset time, the two ladies reach the fair resort among the pines, and Major Grenville and Marlow Holme are waiting on the station platform to escort them to a horse and carriage. With what a tumult of strange feelings Pansy sees once more the well-remembered streets.

Marlow thinks her quieter than usual, and paler. He is solicitous as to her feeling tired after the journey, but Firlands is so closely associated in Pansy's memory with Polesheaton that the thoughts are rushing back to her of that day when her first good dress was made at a Firlands shop, and that hour when from Firlands station she started out upon her new life of brilliance and grandeur.

The place has since then been considerably enlarged, but it was always full of delights and wonders to Pansy's childhood, and somehow it seems smaller now than it appeared in the past, and far less wonderful and imposing than in the days when life's greatest treat was to look at the shop windows, so different to quiet Polesheaton.

The ladies join the table d'hôte dinner at the Wilberforce, and there Pansy's worries begin. Close beside her sits an old gentleman who used to take lodgings in Polesheaton for the sake of sketching sometimes, and had many a chat with her in the post office, and sometimes presented her with chocolate from the grand confectioner's at Firlands.

Pansy recognizes him directly, though the iron-grey hair of yore is white, and he is less erect than he used to be. Suppose he should recognize his little favourite of old, and before all these people ask questions and make remarks which would let Marlow know her former obscurity, and plunge her into shame and confusion!

Fortunately for Pansy, the old gentleman is very cross because a certain dish he coveted is exhausted, and he has no attention to spare beyond his grievance. However, her dinner is spoilt for her, so great is her dread of recognition, and she begins to wish that even for the sake of being with Marlow she had never consented to visit Firlands.

"I am painting the loveliest little place I have seen for many a day," says Marlow next morning. He is very fond of busying himself with a brush when he has leisure. "If you and Miss Ashburne will favour me with your company today, I should greatly like to drive you over. Grenville will be engaged with friends from London till six, when we both are due at a public meeting."

"If Miss Adair is not too tired after yesterday's journey," says Miss Ashburne, "we shall enjoy a drive this beautiful morning. Are you painting the forest scenery, Mr. Holme?"

"No, my subject is a picturesque old cottage covered with wisteria by the side of a stream crowned with water lilies. I am getting in likewise a bit of an old mill close by.

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