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Yonge, Charlotte Mary, 1823-1901

"Chantry House"

'
GRAY.
One of Griffith's briefest notes in his largest hand announced that
he had accepted various invitations to country houses, for cricket
matches, archery meetings, and the like; nor did he even make it
clear where his address would be, except that he would be with a
friend in Scotland when grouse-shooting began.
Clarence, however, came home for a brief holiday. He was startled
at the first sight of Ellen. He said she was indeed lovelier than
ever, with an added sweetness in her clear eyes and the wild rose
flush in her delicate cheek; but that she looked as if she was being
refined away to nothing, and was more than ever like the vision with
the lamp.
Of course the Fordyces had not been going into society, though Ellen
and Emily were as much together as before, helping one another in
practising their school children in singing, and sharing in one
another's studies and pursuits. There had been in the spring a
change at Wattlesea; the old incumbent died, and the new one was
well reported of as a very earnest hardworking man. He seemed to be
provided with a large family, and there was no driving into
Wattlesea without seeing members of it scattered about the place.
The Fordyces being anxious to show them attention without a regular
dinner-party, decided on inviting all the family to keep Anne's
ninth birthday, and Emily and Martyn were of course to come and
assist at the entertainment.


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