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Victor or victim; or, The mine of Darley Dale
Victor or victim or The mine of Darley Dale Author:John Saunders 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: CHAPTER III. A PLACE OF REST. IF Mr. Dakeyne had been a great conqueror, | who, tired at last of his gory plaything, war, began to welcome in anticipation ... more »the repose of death, but wished that repose to be as sweet, picturesque, and unique as his life had been stormy, adventurous, and fateful, not all his power, or wealth, or the adulation of subjects, could have found for him a lovelier, more romantic, or more peaceful scene for his final abiding place on earth than was the mine owner's. The church, a dignified and impressive structure in its hoary age, with the churchyard clinging about its base, in lowly dependence, occupy the summit of a high and richly-wooded slope ; where the great, grey, limestone rocks,circling boldly out and inclining downwards,- show at intervals ;- and break the surface into the most varied forms and charming contrasts of colour, through the bright and differing tints of the low trees, shrubs, and dense undergrowth. Below, at the bottom of the slope, runs a babbling and sparkling river, bounding as in the joyous spirit of a dance over every little rock in its way. So clear is it you may count the pebbles that gem the bed, several feet deep, and watch the fish swiftly darting to and fro. The tiny river is crossed by a rustic bridge, the farther end of which opens upon the rector's garden; now bright and fragrant with all tha.t is most choice and rare among the earlier flowers of spring, collected from pretty well every quarter of the world. Such is the view presented from the Rector's house, which stands in the valley, facing the garden, the river, and the towering slope beyond. And if anything in the sweet sounds, sights, or scents of nature could have cheered Mabel Dakeyne, as she stood at the window of the Eector's drawing room, in funer...« less