Guy Livingstone or "Thorough"

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857 edition. Excerpt: ...squire. You will hunt a good deal, but never ride any more. (You must sell the Axeine, you know.) You will go to magistrates' meetings regularly, and breed immense cattle; and you will grow very fat yourself. That's the worst of all. I don't like to fancy you, stout and unwieldy, like Athelstan.' She ended pensively. The languor of reaction seemed stealing over her; but it only made her more charming, as she leant still farther back on the soft cushions, watching the point of her tiny foot tracing the pattern of the carpet. 'What a brilliant horoscope, ' said Guy; 'and so benevolently sketched, too! Now your own, Improvisatrice?' 'I shall marry, too, ' she answered, gravely. 'I ought to have done so long ago. Perhaps I shall make up my mind soon. Evil examples are so contagious.' 'And who will draw the great prize?' 'I have not the faintest idea. I suppose some fine old English gentleman, who has a great estate.' 'I only hope the said estate will be near Kerton, ' Livingstone suggested; and he drew closer to his companion. 'Ah, dear old Kerton!' she said, sighing again. 'I shall never go there any more.' 'The reason V 'Perhaps, because my husband, whoever he may be, will not choose to bring me.' 'Absurd V Guy retorted, biting his lip hard. 'As if that individual would have any will of his own. You want to provoke me, I see.' The answer came in so low a whisper, that, though he bent his ear down, he had almost to guess at the words. 'No; I have never tried to do that, even during the last three months. I am not brave enough. Perhaps I should not come, because--I could not bear it.' They were silent. She was so near him now that her quick breath stirred his hair, and he could feel the pulse of her heart beating against his own side. The fiery...