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Contents (80)
  1. CONTENTS
  2. ACTING ON IMPULSE
  3. CONTENTS
  4. INTRODUCTION
  5. “A PROPOSAL TO CICELY”
  6. INTRODUCTION
  7. A PROPOSAL TO CICELY
  8. THE END
  9. READING “A PROPOSAL TO CICELY”
  10. “THE LITTLE LADY”
  11. INTRODUCTION
  12. THE LITTLE LADY
  13. I.
  14. II.
  15. III.
  16. THE END
  17. READING “THE LITTLE LADY”
  18. “LINCKES’ GREAT CASE”
  19. INTRODUCTION
  20. LINCKES’ GREAT CASE
  21. I.
  22. II.
  23. III.
  24. IV.
  25. V.
  26. VI.
  27. VII.
  28. THE END
  29. READING “LINCKES’ GREAT CASE”
  30. “THE BULLDOG AND THE BEAST”
  31. INTRODUCTION
  32. THE BULLDOG AND THE BEAST
  33. THE END
  34. READING “THE BULLDOG AND THE BEAST”
  35. “ACTING ON IMPULSE”
  36. INTRODUCTION
  37. ACTING ON IMPULSE
  38. I.
  39. II.
  40. III.
  41. IV.
  42. THE END
  43. READING “ACTING ON IMPULSE”
  44. “WHOSE FAULT WAS IT?”
  45. INTRODUCTION
  46. WHOSE FAULT WAS IT?
  47. THE END
  48. READING “WHOSE FAULT WAS IT?”
  49. “THE CHINESE SHAWL”
  50. INTRODUCTION
  51. CONT
  52. THE CHINESE SHAWL
  53. I.
  54. II.
  55. III.
  56. IV.
  57. V.
  58. VI.
  59. VII.
  60. VIII.
  61. THE END
  62. READING “THE CHINESE SHAWL”
  63. “THE OLD MAID”
  64. INTRODUCTION
  65. THE OLD MAID
  66. THE END
  67. READING “THE OLD MAID”
  68. “LOVE”
  69. INTRODUCTION
  70. LOVE
  71. I.
  72. II.
  73. III.
  74. THE END
  75. READING “LOVE”
  76. THE SEARCH FOR “ON SUCH A NIGHT”
  77. GEORGETTE HEYER’S BIBLIOGRAPHY
  78. FURTHER READING
  79. COMING SOON!
  80. OCTOBER 29, 2019

“Poor things! I wonder they can bear to remain here, and see their old home in other hands,” said Ruth. “I know I couldn’t.”

Ever ready to gossip, Mrs. Tippit sat down opposite Ruth, and smoothed out her apron.

“It was all on account of Miss Bride, ma’am. You see, after Captain Jermyn was killed—”

“Captain Jermyn?”

“That would be her lover. You know, Ruth,” interposed Peter softly.

“You’re right, sir. Captain Jermyn was engaged to Miss Bride. The handsomest, jolliest gentleman you could wish for! He always had a smile for one, an’ was that kind-hearted—well! Everybody said about here that you couldn’t find a nicer couple than our Miss Bride and Captain Jermyn. And then they went and quarrelled, sir! No one thought much of it at the time. We all saw the captain go away in his car, scowling fit to die. But, as I said to my husband, lovers’ quarrels end in kisses.” Mrs. Tippet shook her head sadly. “This one didn’t. He never came back. I think he was too proud, and as for Miss Bride— She was as gentle as you please until you happened on that pride of hers. Touch her there, and—my word! Well, all I know is that Captain Jermyn never came here again and Miss Bride never spoke his name! Just held her pretty head high, and pretended not to care. Then the war came, and nat’rally Captain Jermyn, being a Regular, was one of the first to go out. A change came over Miss Bride then.” Mrs. Tippit touched her eyes with a corner of her apron. “Poor, sweet little thing! I remember her coming here and saying to me in her pretty voice, “I’ve written to Anthony, Jessie.” Bless her! She’d be sure to tell me one of the first, me having maided her when she was a child. She’d written to beg his pardon, ma’am. An’ the very next day there was a notice in all the big newspapers to say that he was reported missing.”

“Oh,” Ruth slipped her hand in Peter’s. “How dreadful!”

“You may well say so, ma’am. From that day onward Miss Bride changed. It came gradual, but very soon we all knew that her brain was—was queer. Not exactly mad, just queer, like a child, sir. When the news came at last that Captain Jermyn had been killed, it seemed hardly to touch Miss Bride. All she said was, ‘It’s so long ago! So long ago! Too long to remember now!’ over and over again, till I could have cried to hear her. Then the smash came, and Colonel Flower had to sell the Place. They didn't dare leave the neighbourhood, because Miss Bride was always wandering through the beechwoods, where she and the captain used to sit. They did try to take her away, but she fretted herself sick, and they had to come back. They took Red Roofs—that was when Miss Bride was so ill, and they cut off her hair. They’ve been there ever since.”