The Laurel Walk Author:Mrs. Molesworth General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1898 Original Publisher: Drexel Biddle Subjects: American fiction Fiction / Anthologies Literary Criticism / General Literary Criticism / American / General Literary Criticism / American / African American Literary Criticism / Women Authors Notes: This is a black ... more »and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER IV BETTY IN ARMS /TR. MILNE started to his feet half in- T/ voluntarily. And -- " He has been expecting this summons," thought Frances. "I am afraid," he said, turning to his hostess apologetically, "I am afraid I must not allow myself to enjoy a cup of your excellent tea, for that must be Mr. Littlewood. He's been looking round the place with the bailiff this afternoon, and we arranged that he should call for me here, as we have a good deal of business before us this evening; so may I ask you to excuse " " By no means," said Mr. Morion in a tone of unwonted heartiness. " We can't think of excusing you, Milne. On the contrary, can you not ask Mr. Littlewood to join us ? A few moments' delay in tackling your business cannot possibly signify." The three pairs of ears could scarcely credit what they heard, the three pairs of eyes exchanged furtive glances, while Lady Emma murmured something vaguely civil by way of endorsement of her husband's proposal. It was the lawyer who hesitated. To tell the truth, knowing the peculiarities of his present host as he did, he had been feeling during the last quarter of an hour somewhat nervous, and he now devoutly wished that he had not suggested Mr. Littlewood's calling for him at Fir Cottage, seeing that his talk with Mr. Morion had been so much longer than he had anticipated. " I should not have let myself be pers...« less