Boys and girls from Thackeray by Kate Dickinson Sweetser
page 14 of 338 (04%)
page 14 of 338 (04%)
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Fury arose and barked furiously at Tusher; and Father Holt looked on at
this queer scene, with arch, grave glances. The awe exhibited by the little boy perhaps pleased the lady on whom this artless flattery was bestowed, for, having gone down on his knee (as Father Holt had directed him, and the fashion then was) and performed his obeisance, she asked, "Page Esmond, my groom of the chamber will inform you what your duties are, when you wait upon my lord and me; and good Father Holt will instruct you as becomes a gentleman of our name. You will pay him obedience in everything, and I pray you may grow to be as learned and as good as your tutor." Harry then put his small hand into the Father's as he walked away from his first presentation to his mistress, and asked many questions in his artless, childish way. "Who is that other woman?" he asked. "She is fat and round; she is more pretty than my Lady Castlewood." "She is Madame Tusher, the parson's wife of Castlewood. She has a son of your age, but bigger than you." "Why does she like so to kiss my lady's hand? It is not good to kiss." "Tastes are different, little man. Madame Tusher is attached to my lady, having been her waiting-woman before she was married, in the old lord's time. She married Dr. Tusher, the chaplain. The English household divines often marry the waiting-women." "You will not marry the French woman, will you? I saw her laughing with Blaise in the buttery." |
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