Red Rose and Tiger Lily or, In a Wider World   By: L. T. Meade (1854-1914)

Or, In a Wider World

By MRS. L. T. MEADE

AUTHOR OF

A BUNCH OF CHERRIES, A RING OF RUBIES, BAD LITTLE HANNAH, ETC.

"Nothing is required but to set the right way to work, but of course the really important thing is to succeed." Story of the Poor Tailor.

NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS

COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY

THE CASSELL PUBLISHING COMPANY

All rights reserved

[Illustration: NAN AND ANNIE ARRIVE. Red Rose and Tiger Lily. Frontispiece ( Page 4.)]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. NAN'S GOLDEN MANE 1

II. CRUSHED 8

III. TWO PROVERBS 16

IV. THE COLTS ROBIN AND JOE 23

V. NOT MISSED 32

VI. FRIAR'S WOOD 42

VII. THE STORY BOOK LADY 53

VIII. ALONE IN THE WOOD 63

IX. "I BROKE MY WORD," SAID ANNIE 70

X. AN AWFULLY FRIVOLOUS GIRL 79

XI. THE DIAMOND RING 88

XII. THE LAND OF PERHAPS 97

XIII. THE FANCY BALL 113

XIV. POOR MRS. MYRTLE 124

XV. "THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS" 132

XVI. PERHAPS 143

XVII. FAIRY AND BROWNIE 152

XVIII. THE LORRIMERS OF THE TOWERS 161

XIX. TOPSY TURVEY 171

XX. THE NEW OWNERS 179

XXI. HESTER SPEAKS HER MIND 194

XXII. ANTONIA'S GIFT 207

XXIII. TRUTH AND FIDELITY 215

XXIV. A WET SPONGE 222

XXV. MOLLY'S SORROW 234

XXVI. PLOT THICKENS 245

XXVII. NELL IS IN TROUBLE 252

XXVIII. THE LION AND MOUSE 262

XXIX. GOD BLESS ANTONIA 274

RED ROSE AND TIGER LILY

OR

IN A WIDER WORLD

CHAPTER I.

NAN'S GOLDEN MANE.

It was a perfect summer's evening. The sun had just set, and purple, gold, violet, rose colour still filled the sky in the west. There was a tender new moon, looking like a silver bow, also to be seen; before long the evening star would be visible.

Hester Thornton stepped out of the drawing room at the Grange, and, walking a little way down the broad gravel sweep, began to listen intently. Hester was about seventeen a slender girl for her age. Her eyes were dark, her eyebrows somewhat strongly marked, her abundant hair, of a much lighter shade of brown, was coiled in close folds round her well shaped head. Her lips were slightly compressed, her chin showed determination. Hester had not been beautiful as a child, and she was not beautiful as a girl, but her face was pleasant to look at, very bright when animated, very steadfast and sweet when in repose. The air was like nectar to her cheeks. She was naturally a pale girl, but a faint rose colour was now discernible in her complexion, and the look of expectation in her dark eyes made them charming.

A step was heard on the gravel behind, and she turned quickly.

"Is that you, father?" she exclaimed.

"Yes. Are not you very imprudent to come out at this hour in your thin house shoes, and with nothing on your head? There is a very heavy dew falling."

"Oh, I never take cold," replied Hester with a smile, which showed her even and pretty white teeth; "and I certainly shan't to night," she continued, "for I am feeling far too excited."