God's Work and How to Do It Author:William Gray General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1874 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IV. THE SHADO W, A/TR HOLMES, who had been from home all the morning, now returned to luncheon, bringing some young friends with him. He was a most hospitable man, somewhat lavish and careless in his expenditure, having been of late unusually successful in several speculations ; moreover he wished to see his daughter well and happily married. When lunch was over, and they were again alone, he asked Jane to join him in a long ride he intended taking that afternoon into the country. She told him of her promise to Annette, but he said, if that was the only difficulty in the way, he would himself go round whilst the horses were being saddled, and return with her friend's permission for a change of mind. This settled, Jane soon appeared daintily equipped for her ride, looking as if neither painting, music, nor reading could in any way interfere with her thorough enjoyment of it; for indeed at any time a ride with her father had for her a peculiar charm. Once started, they soon got into animated conversation, much enjoying the delightful air as they passed the old walls of Chester, and pursuing their way over the bridge leading towards the Duke of Westminster's grounds, they still chatted eagerly, discussing the merits and demerits of the paintings in the Dresden Gallery, which they had visited in the previous year. At length Mr Holmes suddenly said to Jane -- "I hear that Mr Hardcastle means to take you by storm, and carry you off from the old nest some of these days." " How can you think or believe such things, papa ? I am sure he has no such intention; and if he had" and then she stopped. "...« less