Springhaven Author:R. D. Blackmore 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: For Zebedee Tugwell had a son called ''Dan," as like him as a tender pea can be like a tough one; promising also to be tough, in course of time, by chafing of th... more »e world and weather. But at present Dan Tugwell was as tender to the core as a marrowfat dallying till its young duck should be ready; because Dan was podding into his first love. To the sympathetic telescope his heart was low, and his mind gone beyond astronomical range, and his hands (instead of briskly pairing soles) hung asunder, and sprawled like a starfish. "Indeed he does look sad," said Miss Dolly; "he is thinking of me, as he always does; but I don't see how anybody can blame me. But here conies daddy, with dear old Flapfiu ! I am not a bit afraid of either of them ; but perhaps I had better run away." CHAPTER III. AND HER TRUE COMMANDER. The nature of "Flapfin"—as Miss Dolly Darling and other young people were pleased to call him—was to make his enemies run away, but his friends keep very near to him. He was one of the simplest-minded men that ever trod the British oak. Whatever he thought he generally said; and whatever he said he meant and did. Yet of tricks and frauds he had quick perception, whenever they were tried against him, as well as a marvellous power of seeing the shortest way to everything. He enjoyed a little gentle piece of vanity; not vainglory, and he never could see any justice in losing the credit of any of his exploits. Moreover, he was gifted with the highest faith in the hand of the Almighty over him (to help him in all his righteous deeds), and over his enemies, to destroy them. Though he never insisted on any deep piety in his own behaviour, he had a good deal in his heart, when time allowed, and the linstocks were waiting the signal. His trust wa,s supreme in the Lord and hims...« less