Flower and thorn
Beatrice Whitby
Paperback
(RareBooksClub.com, May 9, 2012)
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 Excerpt: ...is unconquerable. Valerie sank into the blues. She told herself that there was no reason why her case should be an exception to accepted rules of existence. David and she were going to be a wretched pair, a cat and dog couple. The Guthries had certainly no dramatic troubles that she could remember. But trivial irritations, domestic cares, want of confidence undermine happiness, and she had introduced these destructive rifts into the villa lute. She had intended to go into the town--she had shopping to do. She was one of those expensive women who shop for shopping's sake--but she had not energy even to spend and buy. Valerie's mood was dangerous; she was courting disaster, running out to meet it. In this frame of mind she went to her bureau, and, dragging out her drawer of bills and books, began to turn them over and over. For the first time she took a pencil up, and essayed counting on her fingers, and muttering in an amateurish endeavour to add up the total of her liabilities. She must do something, and get this gnawing worry over. Somehow--anyhow--the money should be paid. Great fortunes were to be made on the stage. It was a rich profession amongst such artistes at least as allow their incomes to be published. Mrs. Mallam was on intimate terms with her cousins, the Guthries. She was on those disastrously intimate terms that ignore the formality of the front door-bell--terms that should be unpermissive, under all circumstances, to the Briton whose home is his castle. On some friendly mission, Jane had found opportunity that morning of making her way to the villa to see Valerie, and she boldly turned the handle of the front door upon her arrival, making a noiseless way into the Guthrie fortress, as was her constant wont. The drawing-room door stood ajar. S...