SIX TO SIXTEEN

CONTENTS.


CHAP. PAGE

Introduction 11

I. My Pretty Mother--Ayah--Company 20

II. The Cholera Season--My Mother Goes Away--My Sixth
Birthday 26

III. The Bullers--Matilda takes Me up--We Fall Out--Mr. George 34

IV. Sales--Matters of Principle--Mrs. Minchin Quarrels with
the Bride--Mrs. Minchin Quarrels with Everybody--Mrs.
Minchin is Reconciled--The Voyage Home--A Death on Board 40

V. A Home Station--What Mrs. Buller thought of it--What
Major Buller thought of it 53

VI. Dress and Manner--I Examine Myself--My Great-Grandmother 59

VII. My Great-Grandmother--The Duchess's Carriage--Mrs.
O'Connor is Curious 67

VIII. A Family History 73

IX. Hopes and Expectations--Dreams and Daydreams--The
Vine--Elspeth--My Great-Grandfather 84

X. Thomas the Cat--My Great-Grandfather's Sketches--Adolphe
is my Friend--My Great-great-great-Grandfather Disturbs
my Rest--I Leave The Vine 96

XI. Matilda's News--Our Governess--Major Buller turned
Tutor--Eleanor Arkwright 103

XII. Poor Matilda--The Awkward Age--Mrs. Buller takes Counsel
with her Friends--The 'Milliner and Mantuamaker'--Medical
Advice--The Major Decides 120

XIII. At School--The Lilac Bush--Bridget's Posies--Summer--
Health 138

XIV. Miss Mulberry--Discipline and Recreation--Madame--
Conversation--Eleanor's Opinion of the Drawing-master--
Miss Ellen's--Eleanor's Apology 146

XV. Eleanor's Theories reduced to Practice--Studies--The
Arithmetic-master 159

XVI. Eleanor's Reputation--The Mad Gentleman--Fancies and
Follies--Matilda's Health--The New Doctor 166

XVII. Eleanor's Health--Holy Living--The Prayer of the Son
of Sirach 175

XVIII. Eleanor and I are late for Breakfast--The School Breaks
Up--Madame and Bridget 179

XIX. Northwards--The Black Country--The Stone Country 183

XX. The Vicarage--Keziah--The Dear Boys--The Cook--A
Yorkshire Tea--Bed-fellows 191

XXI. Gardening--Drinkings--The Moors--Wading--Batrachosperma--
The Church--Little Margaret 197

XXII. A New Home--The Arkwrights' Return--The Beasts--Going
to Meet the Boys--Jack's Hat-box--We Come Home a Rattler 209

XXIII. I Correspond with the Major--My Collection--Occupations--
Madame Again--Fête de Village--The British Hooray 219

XXIV. We and the Boys--We and the Boys and our Fads--The Lamp
of Zeal--Clement on Unreality--Jack's Ointment 234

XXV. The "Household Album"--Sketching under Difficulties--A
New Species?--Jack's Bargain--Theories 242

XXVI. Manners and Customs--Clique--The Lessons of Experience--
Out Visiting--House-pride--Dressmaking 257

XXVII. Matilda--Ball Dresses and the Ball--Gores--Miss
Lining--The 'Parishioner's Pennyworth' 269

XXVIII. I go Back to The Vine--After Sunset--A Twilight
Existence--Salad of Monk's-hood--A Royal Summons 279

XXIX. Home Again--Home News--The Very End 293




SIX TO SIXTEEN.

INTRODUCTION.


Eleanor and I are subject to _fads_. Indeed, it is a family failing. (By
the family I mean our household, for Eleanor and I are not, even
distantly, related.) Life would be comparatively dull, up away here on
the moors, without them. Our fads and the boys' fads are sometimes the
same, but oftener distinct.