Produced by Daniel Fromont

[Transcriber's note: Susan Warner, A red wallflower, (1884), Nisbet1913 edition]

A RED WALLFLOWER

BY SUSAN WARNER AUTHOR OF 'THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD,' 'QUEECHY,' ETC.

LONDON JAMES NISBET & CO. LIMITED 21 BERNERS STREET W

NOTE TO THE READER.

The story following is again in its whole chain of skeleton facts atrue story. I beg to observe, in particular, that the denominationalfeeling described in both families, with the ways it showed itself, ispart of the truth of the story, and no invention of mine.

S. W.

MARTLAER'S ROCK, June 25, 1884.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

I. AFTER DANDELIONS II. AT HOME III. THE BOX OF COINS IV. LEARNING V. CONTAMINATION VI. GOING TO COLLEGE VII. COMING HOME VIII. A NOSEGAY IX. WANT OF COMFORT X. THE BLESSING XI. DISSENT XII. THE VACATION XIII. LETTERS XIV. STRUGGLES XV. COMFORT XVI. REST AND UNREST XVII. MOVING XVIII. A NEIGHBOUR XIX. HAPPY PEOPLE XX. SCHOOL XXI. THE COLONEL'S TOAST XXII. A QUESTION XXIII. A DEBATE XXIV. DISAPPOINTMENT XXV. A HEAD OF LETTUCE XXVI. WAYS AND MEANS XXVII. ONIONS XXVIII. STRAWBERRIES XXIX. HAY AND OATS XXX. A HOUSE XXXI. MAJOR STREET XXXII. MOVING XXXIII. BETTY XXXIV. HOLIDAYS XXXV. ANTIQUITIES XXXVI. INTERPRETATIONS XXXVII. A STAND XXXVIII. LIFE PLANS XXXIX. SKIRMISHING XL. LONDON XLI. AN OLD HOUSE XLII. THE TOWER XLIII. MARTIN'S COURT XLIV. THE DUKE OF TREFOIL XLV. THE ABBEY XLVI. A VISIT XLVII. A TALK XLVIII. A SETTLEMENT

A RED WALLFLOWER.

CHAPTER I.

AFTER DANDELIONS.

It is now a good many years ago that an English family came over fromthe old country and established itself in one of the small villagesthat are scattered along the shore of Connecticut. Why they came wasnot clearly understood, neither was it at all to be gathered from theirway of life or business. Business properly they had none; and their wayof life seemed one of placid contentment and unenterprising domesticpleasure. The head of the family was a retired army officer, now pastthe prime of his years; tall, thin, grey, and grave; but a gentlemanthrough and through. Everybody liked Colonel Gainsborough, althoughnobody could account for a man of his age leading what seemed such aprofitless life. He was doing really nothing; staying at home with hiswife and his books. Why had he come to Connecticut at all? If he livedfor pleasure, surely his own country would have been a better place toseek it. Nobody could solve this riddle. That Colonel Gainsborough hadanything to be ashamed of, or anything to be afraid of, enterednobody's head for a moment. Fear or shame were unknown to that grave,calm, refined face. The whisper got about, how, it is impossible tosay, that his leaving home had been occasioned by a disagreement withhis relations. It might be so. No one could ask him, and the colonelnever volunteered to still curiosity on the subject.

The family was small. Only a wife and one little girl came with thecolonel to America; and they were attended by only two old retainers, aman

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