The Green Casket, and other stories

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Molesworth Mrs.. The Green Casket, and other stories

CHAPTER I. – RUTH'S START IN LIFE

CHAPTER II. – AN ACCIDENT AND A SCOLDING

CHAPTER III. – THE OLD CABINET IN THE PASSAGE

CHAPTER IV. – A DOUBLE CONFESSION

Leo's Post-office

Brave Little Denis

CHAPTER I. – WHAT IS 'BRAVE?'

CHAPTER II. – GRANNY AND THE CHILDREN

CHAPTER III. – THE PICTURE GALLERY

CHAPTER IV. – MASTERING THE FEAR

CHAPTER V. – A FRIGHT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

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The Tower House, as I have said, was rambling and old-fashioned. Lady Melicent's boudoir was a pretty, simply-furnished room on the first floor; a long passage with windows at one side led from this to what most people would have called the library, but for which my lady preferred the less imposing name of book-room. This book-room was in the square tower which gave its name to the house; it had a window on every side, and all the wall-space that was not window was covered with well-filled bookshelves. It had a second door besides the one out of the passage; this second door led on to another and narrower lobby from which a stair ran down to the back part of the house. So that when Ruth had finished her morning sweeping and dusting of these rooms, she did not need to pass through them again, but withdrew with her brushes and dusters down the back-stairs.

The ornaments of which Naylor had spoken were some delicate old china cups and saucers and teapots on the boudoir mantelpiece, and on one or two brackets in the corners. In the book-room there were fewer; only a handsome old timepiece above the fireplace and some punch-bowls and Indian vases on a side-table. It was all very interesting and wonderful to Ruth when she found herself installed in the boudoir for her cleaning the next morning. She took the greatest pains to do it thoroughly and neatly, and was careful to put back everything, even to my lady's paper-knife on her little table, exactly as she had found it.

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'If only I could run away! oh, if only I could run home!' she said to herself.

Betsy consoled her in her own way, which was not a very wise one, though kindly meant, when the two girls were alone in their room at night.

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