MELBOURNE HOUSE***
Warner, Susan, 1819-1885, Melbourne House, 1864, Ward Lock edition 1907.
Produced by Daniel FROMONT
MELBOURNE HOUSE
BY ELIZABETH WETHERELL
AUTHOR OF "WIDE, WIDE WORLD."
"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." - _Prov. xx. 11_
LONDON
WARD LOCK AND C° LIMITED
1907
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. DAISY'S QUESTION
CHAPTER II. THE PONY-CHAISE
CHAPTER III. THE BIRTHDAY
CHAPTER IV. THE HAM
CHAPTER V. STRAWBERRIES
CHAPTER VI. THE EPERGNE
CHAPTER VII. A SOLDIER
CHAPTER VIII. GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER IX. AFTER TROUT
CHAPTER X. A FIELD OF BATTLE
CHAPTER XI. THE WOUNDED HAND
CHAPTER XII. THE HUNDRED DOLLARS
CHAPTER XIII. OBEDIENCE
CHAPTER XIV. SUNDAY EVENING
CHAPTER XV. SCHROEDER'S MOUNTAIN
CHAPTER XVI. JUANITA'S COTTAGE
CHAPTER XVII. THE LITTLE CONFESSOR
CHAPTER XVIII. WONDERFUL THINGS
CHAPTER XIX. THE DOCTOR
CHAPTER XX. SUN AND MOON
CHAPTER XXI. TEA AT HOME
CHAPTER XXII. BEING ROBBED
CHAPTER XXIII. THE MAP OF ENGLAND
CHAPTER XXIV. THE PICNIC PARTY
CHAPTER XXV. A SHOWER
CHAPTER XXVI. DAISY'S SUPPER
CHAPTER XXVII. RANSOM AND FIDO
CHAPTER XXVIII. MRS. GARY'S PRESENT
CHAPTER XXIX. THE ROSEBUSH
CHAPTER XXX. MOLLY'S GARDEN
CHAPTER XXXI. THE PICTURES
CHAPTER XXXII. THE BASKET OF SPONGE-CAKE
CHAPTER XXXIII. SATIN AND FEATHERS
CHAPTER XXXIV. CHARITY AND VANITY
CHAPTER XXXV. QUEEN ESTHER
CHAPTER XXXVI. TABLEAUX VIVANTS
CHAPTER XXXVII. AN ACCIDENT
CHAPTER XXXVIII. SOMETHING WRONG
CHAPTER XXXIX. BREAKING UP
CHAPTER I.
DAISY'S QUESTION.
A little girl was coming down a flight of stairs that led up from a great hall, slowly letting her feet pause on each stair, while the light touch of her hand on the rail guided her. The very thoughtful little face seemed to be intent on something out of the house, and when she reached the bottom, she still stood with her hand on the great baluster that rested on the marble there, and looked wistfully out of the open door. So the sunlight came in and looked at her; a little figure in a white frock and blue sash, with the hair cut short all over a little round head, and a face not only just now full of some grave concern, but with habitually thoughtful eyes and a wise little mouth. She did not seem to see the sunlight which poured all over her, and lit up a wide, deep hall, floored with marble, and opening at the other end on trees and flowers, which showed the sunlight busy there too. The child lingered wistfully. Then crossed the hall, and went into a matted, breezy, elegant room, where a lady lay luxuriously on a couch, playing with a book and a leaf-cutter. She could not be _busy_ with anything in that attitude. Nearly all that was to be seen was a flow of lavender silk flounces, a rich slipper at rest on a cushion, and a dainty little cap with roses on a head too much at ease to rest. By the side of the lavender silk stood the little white dress, still and preoccupied as before - a few minutes without any notice.
