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Article COUSIN BRIDGET. ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
accustomed to inhabit , still there was an air of quaint comfort about it , combined with most exquisite cleanliness . The four-post bedstead of polished walnut wood , was hung ivith chintz furniture ; the quilt , a patchwork of velvets and satin ; a three-cornered wash-hand stand , in one corner of the room , of the darkest mahogany ; a large press , of walnut wood , like the bed ; four chairs of strange shapes , with chintz like tlie curtains ; and a large ottoman , at the foot of the bed , covered
with a p iece of tapestry , tolerably filled the little apartment . Hanging over the mantelpiece was a painting " , which much attracted Minna ' s attention ; for , in the pretty , piquant , girlish face it represented , she noticed a strong- likeness to the strange little body below . The darkbrown hair was combed over her forehead , and curled in the neck behind ; a coral necklace ornamented the white round throat ; and she was attired in peach-coloured dresswith very long- waist and
elbow-, sleeves with deep lace ruffles . For some few moments Minna sat contemplating this picture . " It must be Cousin Bridget , as a child—it is so very like her ; and yet , what a contrast now !"—and then Minna thought of that strange cracked voice , and the crabbed expression on the face , so different to the bri ght saucy look of that pretty picture . " She must have had
much trouble and disappointment ! !! her life , so to change her ; perhaps I shall be able to cheer and comfort her ! " and with a bright smile , which this amiable hope excited , Minna took her way back to the parlour , where she found the candles li g hted and the tea set . An old-fashioned silver urn stood in the middle of the table , and the cups were of the most beautiful china without handles ; and , on a brass footman by the fire ,
were some muffins iu a covered plate . " I have not ordered any meat for your tea , cousin ; we take an early supper here . Perhaps you will pour the tea out ; you must take Betty ' s place in those things . " And so Minna did ; aud ere many weeks had passed Betty was a complete nonentity , very much to her dissatisfaction . Cousin Bridget could not live without her beautiful cousin ; and though a turn- nose in the village turned hiher still in
many up up g disdain at tlie London Beauty—who ,. after all , was only a tradesman ' s ( laughter—yet there were few who did not yield to her extraordinary fascination ami constant kindness . Cousin Bridget was universally disliked ; for though , as the neighbours said , she was " so well to do , " thoy never " saw the colour of her money ; " and , a more heinous sin still , she never associated with any one in the villtig-c , nor was ever seen , save on Sundays walking slowly to church and back twice a day in tbe
winter , and three times in the summer . When she did speak to any one , they would rather she had left it alone ; and , in short , IJriilg-et MacTavisli was shunned by one and all . The astonishmeiitwas therefore unequalled , ivhen , on the morning after her arrival Minna ' s beautiful face peeped out of tiie cottage window ; and all wondering- who she could be , accorded her their genuine pity if she were come to live with Bridget MacTavisli ; and stronger w the
gre wonderment , when , arm-in-arm up the village one week-day , walked Bridget and Jiiuua ; and a kind of grim smile was on Bridget's face as Minna ' s joyous one glanced underneath her quaint grey silk bonnet . And often were these ivnllis repeated ; and the children would drop a frightened curtsey tit r > 5 adam Mac ! avish , for Minna Westrop had told them they ought , and bad brought them halfpence from Cotisin Bridget as a reward for this mark of respect ; tine ' , one day htilf die place gathered
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cousin Bridget.
accustomed to inhabit , still there was an air of quaint comfort about it , combined with most exquisite cleanliness . The four-post bedstead of polished walnut wood , was hung ivith chintz furniture ; the quilt , a patchwork of velvets and satin ; a three-cornered wash-hand stand , in one corner of the room , of the darkest mahogany ; a large press , of walnut wood , like the bed ; four chairs of strange shapes , with chintz like tlie curtains ; and a large ottoman , at the foot of the bed , covered
with a p iece of tapestry , tolerably filled the little apartment . Hanging over the mantelpiece was a painting " , which much attracted Minna ' s attention ; for , in the pretty , piquant , girlish face it represented , she noticed a strong- likeness to the strange little body below . The darkbrown hair was combed over her forehead , and curled in the neck behind ; a coral necklace ornamented the white round throat ; and she was attired in peach-coloured dresswith very long- waist and
elbow-, sleeves with deep lace ruffles . For some few moments Minna sat contemplating this picture . " It must be Cousin Bridget , as a child—it is so very like her ; and yet , what a contrast now !"—and then Minna thought of that strange cracked voice , and the crabbed expression on the face , so different to the bri ght saucy look of that pretty picture . " She must have had
much trouble and disappointment ! !! her life , so to change her ; perhaps I shall be able to cheer and comfort her ! " and with a bright smile , which this amiable hope excited , Minna took her way back to the parlour , where she found the candles li g hted and the tea set . An old-fashioned silver urn stood in the middle of the table , and the cups were of the most beautiful china without handles ; and , on a brass footman by the fire ,
were some muffins iu a covered plate . " I have not ordered any meat for your tea , cousin ; we take an early supper here . Perhaps you will pour the tea out ; you must take Betty ' s place in those things . " And so Minna did ; aud ere many weeks had passed Betty was a complete nonentity , very much to her dissatisfaction . Cousin Bridget could not live without her beautiful cousin ; and though a turn- nose in the village turned hiher still in
many up up g disdain at tlie London Beauty—who ,. after all , was only a tradesman ' s ( laughter—yet there were few who did not yield to her extraordinary fascination ami constant kindness . Cousin Bridget was universally disliked ; for though , as the neighbours said , she was " so well to do , " thoy never " saw the colour of her money ; " and , a more heinous sin still , she never associated with any one in the villtig-c , nor was ever seen , save on Sundays walking slowly to church and back twice a day in tbe
winter , and three times in the summer . When she did speak to any one , they would rather she had left it alone ; and , in short , IJriilg-et MacTavisli was shunned by one and all . The astonishmeiitwas therefore unequalled , ivhen , on the morning after her arrival Minna ' s beautiful face peeped out of tiie cottage window ; and all wondering- who she could be , accorded her their genuine pity if she were come to live with Bridget MacTavisli ; and stronger w the
gre wonderment , when , arm-in-arm up the village one week-day , walked Bridget and Jiiuua ; and a kind of grim smile was on Bridget's face as Minna ' s joyous one glanced underneath her quaint grey silk bonnet . And often were these ivnllis repeated ; and the children would drop a frightened curtsey tit r > 5 adam Mac ! avish , for Minna Westrop had told them they ought , and bad brought them halfpence from Cotisin Bridget as a reward for this mark of respect ; tine ' , one day htilf die place gathered