They were
essentials of propriety then--natural, and never viewed as prudish.
Nor did it detract from the sweet dignity of maidenhood that there
was none of the familiarity which breeds something one would rather
not mention in conjunction with a lady.
Altogether there was a sunshine around Miss Fordyce by which we all
seemed illuminated, even the least favoured and least demonstrative;
we were all her willing slaves, and thought her smile and thanks
full reward.
One day, when Griff and Martyn were assisting at the turn out of an
isolated barn at Hillside, where Frank Fordyce declared, all the
burnt-out rats and mice had taken refuge, the young ladies went out
to cater for house decorations for Christmas under Clarence's
escort. Nobody but the clerk ever thought of touching the church,
where there were holes in all the pews to receive the holly boughs.
The girls came back, telling in eager scared voices how, while
gathering butcher's broom in Farmer Hodges' home copse, a savage dog
had flown out at them, but had been kept at bay by Mr. Clarence
Winslow with an umbrella, while they escaped over the stile.
Clarence had not come into the drawing-room with them, and while my
mother, who had a great objection to people standing about in out-
door garments, sent them up to doff their bonnets and furs, I
repaired to our room, and was horrified to find him on my bed, white
and faint.
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