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A Houseful Of Girls

A Houseful Of Girls

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CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. A FLUTTER IN THE DOVE-COT 1

II. THE "COUP DE GRÂCE" 20

III. THE HEADS OF THE HOUSE LOOK GRAVE 35

IV. THE CRASH 54

V. PROMOTION 72

VI. THE CLOUD DEEPENS 81

VII. ROSE GOES WEST AND ANNIE GOES EAST 106

VIII. STANDING AND WAITING 122

IX. A WILFUL DOG WILL HAVE HIS WAY 136

X. LIFE IN AN HOSPITAL WARD 157

XI. MRS. JENNINGS AND HER DAUGHTER HESTER 182

XII. A YOUNG ARTIST'S EXPERIENCE 188

XIII. MR. ST. FOY'S AND THE MISSES STONE'S 196

XIV. THE OLD TOWN, WITH ITS AIR STAGNANT YET TROUBLED.
IS MAY TO BECOME A SCHOLAR OR A SHOP-GIRL? 214

XV. TOM ROBINSON TAKEN INTO COUNSEL 234

XVI. ROSE'S FOLLY AND ANNIE'S WISDOM 257

XVII. MAY HAS TO FIGHT HER OWN BATTLE 288

XVIII. DORA IS THE NEXT MESSENGER WITH BAD TIDINGS 316

XIX. THE UNEMPLOYED--A FAMILIAR FACE 322

XX. REDCROSS AGAIN 342

XXI. MISS FRANKLIN'S MISTAKE 363

XXII. A SHRED OF HOPE 382

XXIII. SECOND THOUGHTS AND LAST WORDS 392




A HOUSEFUL OF GIRLS

CHAPTER I.

A FLUTTER IN THE DOVE-COT.


Is there any sensation equal to that produced by the first lover and
the first proposal coming to a girl in a large family of girls? It is
delightfully sentimental, comical, complimentary, affronting, rousing,
tiresome--all in one. It is a herald of lovers, proposals, and wonderful
changes all round. It is the first thrill of real life in its strong
passions, grave vicissitudes, and big joys and sorrows as they come
in contact with idle fancies, hearts that have been light, simple
experiences which have hitherto been carefully guarded from rude shocks.

It does not signify much whether the family of girls happen to be rich
or poor, unless indeed that early and sharp poverty causes a precocity
which deepens girls' characters betimes, and by making them sooner
women, robs them of a certain amount of the thoughtlessness,
fearlessness, and impracticability of girlhood. But girlhood, like many
another natural condition, dies hard; and its sweet, bright illusions,
its wisdom and its folly, survive tolerably severe pinches of adversity.

The younger members of such a sisterhood are politely supposed to be
kept in safe ignorance of the great event which is befalling one of the
seniors. It is thought at once a delicate and prudent precaution to
prevent the veil which hides the future, with its casualties, from being
lifted prematurely and abruptly, where juvenile minds are concerned,
lest they become unhinged and unfit for the salutary discipline of
schoolroom lessons, and the mild pleasure of schoolroom treats. The
flower in the bud ought to be kept with its petals folded, in its
innocent absence of self-consciousness, to the last moment.
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