Ashcombe churchyard - 1862 Author:Evelyn Benson Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Sarah time or spirits to act the part of an energetic teacher. George, since his father had become incompetent, occasionally took upon himself to act Paterfamili... more »as, and would then lecture Lucy on her manners and behaviour, examine her in history, and Bcold Sarah for having brought her on so badly. At other times, when he was in a witty mood, he would take advantage of her ignorance, and encourage her in her mistakes, if he found that a humorous and laughable scene could be produced by it. When at Bedford she had been attended now and then by a daily governess, who taught her all she knew herself, and we need scarcely assist our readers to the conclusion that she taught her almost nothing. Accordingly, it is pretty evident that the poor girl had very little to set her off but the gifts of nature, which were a pleasing countenance, bearing a great resemblance to her father's, an easy temper, cheerfulness, and a good-natured disposition. She remembered nothing of past glories ; she had been reared in mediocrity, and it appeared to her to be herproper station in life. Her chief pleasure lay in attending on her papa ; her recreation consisted in chatting to Mrs Miller, as they were both engaged in such offices as the sick man required. CHAPTER III. OMENS. " Venturi nuncia luctfts Ignavus bubo, dirum mortalibus omen."—Ovid. The young Boltons generally assembled in the breakfast-room at nine o'clock. Mr Bolton did not rise until after breakfast; his tea and toast were prepared for him by Sarah and taken to him by Lucy. When Sarah made her appearance in the parlour this morning, she found George reading there alone, Edmund being out. He threw aside his book to have some chat. " I am glad this day is so sunny and cheerful, Sarah, for it will make the first impression of the...« less