The Widowed Bride — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE WIDOWED BRIDE, 113 CHAPTER XV. THE RECTORY OF TREGARVAN. The midday sun was shining gloriously over the range of hills, which slope precipitously down to one of the loveliest sea-coasts on all the Cardiganshire shore, when the rude, vet not uncomfortable, jaunting-car, which had met Alice Percival at the obscure railway station, rnmbled up to ‘lre- garvan Rectory, a long, low building, with a slated roof, picturesque stacks of vine-draped chimneys, and latticed windows, completely vailed in clusters of blossoming roses. A low stone wall surrounded the space of cultivated ground which adjoined the dwelling; and, through yew trees and elms beyond, was just visible the spire of the pretty little church, an edifice of reddish stone, with projecting but- tresses of some darker material. Alice Percival was very weary; she had been traveling ever since early morning, and a part of the previous day, yet a feeling of pleasure thrilled her heart at the sight of this picturesque spot, which was probably to be her future residence. ‘“T know I shall like Tregarvan Rectory,” she thought, as the car stopped in front of the rose covered porch, and a sweet, matronly looking woman, of about forty, came out to receive ner. Alice could only see that her hair and eyes were of a bright brown, and her figure plump and comfort- able to look upon, before she found herself warmly greeted and welcomed to Tregarvan. “Tam Mrs. Eskett,” said the lady, her rosy face beaming with hospitable smiles, ‘‘and you are Miss Percival. Iam very glad to see you, my dear. Come in and see my hus- band and your little pupils, who have been watching for their governess to come these two hours.” She led Alice into a low-ceiled room, lighted by oblong casements, filled with tiny diamond shaped panes of glass, and lined around with books, where, at a table literally groaning with volumes, papers, and pamphlets, sat a tall, bald-headed man, who wore green spectacles, and had a pen sticking in warlike fashion behind each ear. His coat, shiny at the seams, and belonging to some antedeluvian cut E. & comicbooks.com Y ’ ee . f y 1