The Reflections of Ambrosine eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 254 pages of information about The Reflections of Ambrosine.

The Reflections of Ambrosine eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 254 pages of information about The Reflections of Ambrosine.

“No one would accept such a stupid invitation as that,” I said to myself, hopefully, as I folded the sheet and put it in the envelope.  But by ten o’clock next day a telegram was handed to me: 

    Very pleased to come on 15th.  Many thanks.—­ANTONY THORNHIRST.

So he will see the stuffed bears, and the negro figures, and the Tottenham Court Road Louis XV. drawing-rooms, after all, whether I wish it or no!

Whether I wish it or no!

Augustus was delighted—­not so much at the acceptance of this guest, but his own wonderful prehension.

“There!  I told you he’d jump at it,” he said.

* * * * *

For several days after this a good deal of my time was taken up by my mother-in-law’s advice and directions as to how I should rule the house during her absence at Bournemouth, where she would be until she returned to spend Christmas with us.

It was a great wrench, one could see, to Mrs. Gurrage to relinquish even for this short two months her rule at Ledstone.  But she was in so good a temper with me for what she considered I had done in bringing Augustus back “to the path of duty” (we have heard no more of Lady Grenellen) that she bestowed upon me her sceptre with a good grace.

At last the day came when Amelia, carrying the parrot, followed her into the brougham.

Augustus had preceded them to the station, and with infinite fuss of maids and footman, and stray card-board boxes, and final directions, the whole party disappeared down the drive, and I was left standing on the red-granite steps.

A sudden sense of exaltation came over me.

I was alone for the first time since my wedding!

It would be evening before Augustus could return from seeing them off in London.

There was almost one whole day.  What should I do?  Where should I go?

Roy even barked with pleasure.

As I turned back into the house, the butler informed me
Hephzibah—­Mrs. Prodgers—­was waiting to see me.

Dear old nurse!  She comes up rarely.  She is radiantly happy with her grocer’s man, and I think it grieves her to see me.

To-day it was to tell me that she had an accident with one of the
Sevres cups, a chip having appeared in the handle.

She almost cried over it.

“Oh!  If madam could know!” she said; then, “I dearly wish you would come back just to see how I have kept things,” she added.

“Oh, Hephzibah, I will some day, but do not ask me yet!  I—­I should so miss grandmamma.”

“You—­you’re happy, Miss Ambrosine?” she faltered, timidly.  “Madam always knew best, you know.  But I had a dream last night of your father, and he shook his fist at us—­right there.”

“Papa!” I felt startled.  Our settled conviction had been so long that he was dead.  “You dreamed of papa?  Oh!  Hephzibah, if he should still be alive!” I cried.

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The Reflections of Ambrosine from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.