The Awkward AgeSave when it happened to rain Vanderbank always walked home, but he usually took a hansom when the rain was moderate and adopted the preference of the philosopher when it was heavy. On this occasion he therefore recognised as the servant opened the door a congruity between the weather and the four-wheeler that, in the empty street, under the glazed radiance, waited and trickled and blackly glittered. The butler mentioned it as on such a wild night the only thing they could get, and Vanderbank, having replied that it was exactly what would do best, prepared in the doorway to put up his umbrella and dash down to it. At this moment he heard his name pronounced from behind and on turning found himself joined by the elderly fellow guest with whom he had talked after dinner and about whom later on upstairs he had sounded his hostess. It was at present a clear question of how this amiable, this apparently unassertive person should get home-of the possibility of the other cab for which even now one of the footmen, with a whistle to his lips, craned out his head and listened through the storm. Mr. Longdon wondered to Vanderbank if their course might by any chance be the same; which led our young friend immediately to express a readiness to see him safely in any direction that should accommodate him. |
Contents
PREFACE | 5 |
BOOK FIRST LADY JULIA | 26 |
BOOK SECOND LITTLE AGGIE | 59 |
BOOK THIRD MR LONGDON | 132 |
BOOK FOURTH MR CASHMORE | 167 |
BOOK FIFTH THE DUCHESS | 208 |
BOOK SIXTH MRS BROOK | 277 |
BOOK SEVENTH MITCHY | 327 |
BOOK EIGHTH TISHY GRENDON | 371 |
BOOK NINTH VANDERBANK | 423 |
BOOK TENTH NANDA | 477 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
added afraid Aggie's amusement answer appeared asked awfully Awkward Age beautiful Beccles broke Brook Brookenham Cashmore Cashmore's charming child companion conscious continued course dare say daughter dear dear Jane dropped Duchess Edward everything expression eyes face fact feel gave girl give Grendon hand Harold headshake hesitated hostess idea instant interest James Lane Allen Jane keep kind Lady Fanny Lady Julia least little Aggie Longdon looked Lord Petherton mamma marriage marry matter mean mind minute Mitchett Mitchy laughed Mitchy's mother Nanda never Oh yes one's pause perfectly perhaps person poor presently pursued question recognise replied returned round seemed silence simply smile sofa somehow sort speak spoke stared straight suppose sure talk tell there's thing thought Tishy told tone took turned understand Van's Vanderbank laughed visitor waited watch what's woman wonder young