The Clives of Burcot By Hesba Stretton Author:Sarah Smith Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. At last, there were sundry indications in the monotonous household that the master might return at any time. There was a certain air of expectanc... more »y and preparation pervading the house, which tended to raise my drooping spirits. I had heard little of Mr. Clive's wanderings; nothing whatever since Mrs. Ashworth had separated herself from companionship with me; and now, half the pleasure I felt in seeing the prospect of his return consisted in the positive con viction that he would be compelled to make some other arrangement for me, and that he must at least yield to my reasonable demand to leave Burcot. I was resolved that no arguments should induce me to remain under the same roof with an enemy so implacable, and I hoped that he would at once see and acknowledge the impossibility of VOL. II. D my continuing to live with Mrs. Ashworth. He would find me forsaken, depressed, more shaken in health and spirits, than when he left me; and I had not read his character aright, if he would wish me to remain in so miserable a condition. My surprise and chagrin were great, therefore, when, upon the evening when he was finally expected to arrive, Mrs. Ashworth joined me at dinner; and, though she would not meet my eye, addressed me with tolerable suavity. It was a tacit offer of peace, made in the near prospect of her nephew's return; and its result was, to perplex and upset my plans. My course would have been easier if she had still refused to have any intercourse with me; but now I began to hesitate as to what I could say to Mr. Clive, and how much of my statements he would believe. As soon as we heard the sound of carriage- wheels passing the window, Mrs. Ashworth sprang from her seat with an exclamation of delight and impatience, but she would not proceed to the hall...« less