May Brooke eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 212 pages of information about May Brooke.

May Brooke eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 212 pages of information about May Brooke.

“But you keep servants, don’t you?”

“I have heretofore attended to the domestic affairs of the house,” replied May, shocked by her cousin’s levity.

“Oh, heavens!  I shall lose my identity!  I shall grow coarse and fat; my hands will become knobby and red; oh, dear! but perhaps you will not expect me to assist you?”

“And why?” asked May, while the indignant blood flushed her cheeks, and her impulse to say something sharp and mortifying to the young worldling’s pride, was strong within her; but she thought of the mild and lowly Virgin, and the humility of her DIVINE SON, and added, in a quiet tone, “Uncle Stillinghast will certainly expect you to make yourself useful.”

“And if I don’t?”

“I fear you will rue it.”

“Well, this looks more civilized!” said Helen, after they went down.  “What nice antique furniture! how delightful those geraniums are; and how charming the fire looks and feels!”

“Here is your breakfast, dear Helen; eat it while it is warm,” said May, coming in with a small tray, which she arranged on a stand behind her.

“Thank you, dear little lady; really this coffee is delicious, and the toast is very nice,” said Helen, eating her breakfast with great gout.

“I am glad you relish it; and now that you are comfortably fixed, if you will excuse me, I will run out for an hour or so; I have some little matters to attend to down street.  You will find a small bamboo tub in the next room, when you finish eating, in which you can wash up your cup and saucer, and plate.”

“Yes, dame Trot, I will endeavor to do so!” said Helen, with a droll grimace.

“The tea-towel is folded up on the first shelf in that closet near you; so, good morning,” said May, laughing, as she took up her work-basket, and went upstairs to get her bonnet and wrappings, and make other arrangements; then drawing on her walking-boots, and twisting a nubae around her throat, she went out, with a bundle in her hand, and walked with a brisk pace down the street.  She soon approached a gothic church—­a church of the Liguorian Missions, and at the distance of half a square, heard the solemn and heavenly appeals of the organ, rolling in soft aerial billows past her.  She quickened her steps, and pushing gently against the massive door, went in.  A solemn mass was being offered, and a requiem chanted, for the repose of the soul of a member of the arch-confraternity of the Immaculate Heart of MARY.  “I thank thee, dear Jesus, for giving me this opportunity to adore thee,” whispered May, kneeling in the crowd, “for all thy tender mercies, this is the most touching and consoling to me; when thou dost come, clad in the solemn and touching robes of propitiation, to offer THYSELF for the eternal repose of the souls of thy departed children.”

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Project Gutenberg
May Brooke from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.