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Article COUSIN BRIDGET. ← Page 3 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
" You Tt be better off there , dear , than in service . Oh , go ! pray go !" The desolate girl was too wretched to care what became of Ucv ; therefore , tacitly she consented , wrote a grateful reply , and , ou ihe Saturday , Hester took her to the coach , pressing- in her hand , as she bid her warmly good-lne , the wages Minna had just paid her , and hurried away that the weeping- and bewildered girl might not return it ; andin an hour ' s timethe coach entered a picturesquepeaceful
, , , village , aud stopped before an exquisite cottage of the Elizabethan Order . It was late in the autumn , and nearly dark ; but , through the lattice window , the red glow of a fire looked cheering and comfortable . The loud ring at the gate-bell was speedily replied to , and the door thrown open by an old , prim , clean-looking servant ; the guard carried the box into the passage , Minna paid tiie ( arc , and , walking into that cosy cottagefelt she bad found a home .
, The servant opened the parlour door and announced , "The younglady ! " and Minna found herself in a ivainscotted room in wliich the fire was burning brig htly ; the sides of the old-fashioned grate were ornamented with Dutch tiles ; the furniture of horse-hair was all equally old-fashioned ; and on various little tables , and on the hi gh mantel-E iece were p laced quantities of Chelsea and old China ; a well-filled ook-case , with glass doors , was at the end of the room , ornamented at
the top by a large stuffed white owl . Several pictures of ladies and gentlemen , in powdered wigs , hung on the walls , and over the fire-place was a specimen of embroidery , " Elijah beneath the Juniper Tree , " in a frame , with a display of peacocks' feathers behind it . In a hig h-backed chair by the fire , with a painted screen before her face , sat a diminutive old lady , in a rich brocaded silk dress and high
lawn cap , beneath which her hair was closely braided , its extreme whiteness making her small black eyes seem darker ; a frill of lace was round her throat , and a pair of black mittens , and white apron completed her toilet . Over her arm hung , by a long- ribbon , a white (• ilk embroidered bug-, with a pincushion let iu on one side ; and on the forefinger of her left hand , glittered a splendid ring of diamonds and sapphires ; while , fastening the frill , ivas a curious old brooch , composed of a tomb , a willow , and initials iu fair hair and seed-pearls ,
set in a rim of p lain gold . She did not rise from her seat w hen Minna entered ; but , bowing slifiy , pointed to a chair , checking the warm-hearted girl , who would fain have flung her arms about the old dame ' s neck , in gratitude for a
refuge aud a home . " You are Mr . Wcstrop ' s only child , " at length she said , in a voice resembling the continued cracking of nuts . " Well ! I hope you'll make yourself at home ; I shall not be sorry for a companion , if you don't interfere with my ways ' . " " Now Betty , " she continued , turning- to the old servant , who appeared waiting for further orders , " show this young woman her
room , and then set tea ! " And then , with a murmured "Thank you ! " Minna followed Betty up tlie wide , old-fashioned , carved-oak staircase , to a small room , which she was told she was to occupy . " I believe as you ' 11 find all i our wants , Miss ; there be a bell , if so he as you docs wants anything !" And the servant left her to survey her little apartment , and , in some measure , to recover her bewiidcrinonl . Though vi : ry unlike the large and commodious room , filled with modem i ' uniitui c , she had been
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
" You Tt be better off there , dear , than in service . Oh , go ! pray go !" The desolate girl was too wretched to care what became of Ucv ; therefore , tacitly she consented , wrote a grateful reply , and , ou ihe Saturday , Hester took her to the coach , pressing- in her hand , as she bid her warmly good-lne , the wages Minna had just paid her , and hurried away that the weeping- and bewildered girl might not return it ; andin an hour ' s timethe coach entered a picturesquepeaceful
, , , village , aud stopped before an exquisite cottage of the Elizabethan Order . It was late in the autumn , and nearly dark ; but , through the lattice window , the red glow of a fire looked cheering and comfortable . The loud ring at the gate-bell was speedily replied to , and the door thrown open by an old , prim , clean-looking servant ; the guard carried the box into the passage , Minna paid tiie ( arc , and , walking into that cosy cottagefelt she bad found a home .
, The servant opened the parlour door and announced , "The younglady ! " and Minna found herself in a ivainscotted room in wliich the fire was burning brig htly ; the sides of the old-fashioned grate were ornamented with Dutch tiles ; the furniture of horse-hair was all equally old-fashioned ; and on various little tables , and on the hi gh mantel-E iece were p laced quantities of Chelsea and old China ; a well-filled ook-case , with glass doors , was at the end of the room , ornamented at
the top by a large stuffed white owl . Several pictures of ladies and gentlemen , in powdered wigs , hung on the walls , and over the fire-place was a specimen of embroidery , " Elijah beneath the Juniper Tree , " in a frame , with a display of peacocks' feathers behind it . In a hig h-backed chair by the fire , with a painted screen before her face , sat a diminutive old lady , in a rich brocaded silk dress and high
lawn cap , beneath which her hair was closely braided , its extreme whiteness making her small black eyes seem darker ; a frill of lace was round her throat , and a pair of black mittens , and white apron completed her toilet . Over her arm hung , by a long- ribbon , a white (• ilk embroidered bug-, with a pincushion let iu on one side ; and on the forefinger of her left hand , glittered a splendid ring of diamonds and sapphires ; while , fastening the frill , ivas a curious old brooch , composed of a tomb , a willow , and initials iu fair hair and seed-pearls ,
set in a rim of p lain gold . She did not rise from her seat w hen Minna entered ; but , bowing slifiy , pointed to a chair , checking the warm-hearted girl , who would fain have flung her arms about the old dame ' s neck , in gratitude for a
refuge aud a home . " You are Mr . Wcstrop ' s only child , " at length she said , in a voice resembling the continued cracking of nuts . " Well ! I hope you'll make yourself at home ; I shall not be sorry for a companion , if you don't interfere with my ways ' . " " Now Betty , " she continued , turning- to the old servant , who appeared waiting for further orders , " show this young woman her
room , and then set tea ! " And then , with a murmured "Thank you ! " Minna followed Betty up tlie wide , old-fashioned , carved-oak staircase , to a small room , which she was told she was to occupy . " I believe as you ' 11 find all i our wants , Miss ; there be a bell , if so he as you docs wants anything !" And the servant left her to survey her little apartment , and , in some measure , to recover her bewiidcrinonl . Though vi : ry unlike the large and commodious room , filled with modem i ' uniitui c , she had been