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Digby Heathcote The Early Days of a Country Gentleman's Son and Heir By: William Henry Giles Kingston (1814-1880) |
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DIGBY HEATHCOTE, BY W.H.G. KINGSTON. CHAPTER ONE. THE HERO'S EARLY DAYS BLOXHOLME, ITS SQUIRE, HIS FAMILY AND DEPENDENTS. "I'll not stand it, that I won't, Master Digby. To think that you, a
young gentleman who has plenty to eat and drink of everything that's
nice, and more than enough, too, should come and put your fingers
through the paper into my jam pots, which I've just been and nicely tied
down, and all for mischief's sake, it's not to be borne, let me tell
you. You've been and eaten up a whole pot of raspberry jam, and better
than half a one of greengage. I wonder you are not sick with it. If
you ever do it again, I'll leave your honoured father's service sooner
than submit to such behaviour, that I will remember, Master Digby." These exclamations were uttered by Mrs Carter, the housekeeper at
Bloxholme Hall, the residence of Mr Heathcote, the representative of
one of the oldest families in the county. The culprit thus addressed, who had been caught in flagrante delicto ,
stood before her with very sticky fingers, his countenance, however,
wearing anything but an expression of penitence. "I like jam, and you don't give me enough in my puddings," was the only
excuse he deigned to offer for his conduct. "You'll go without it altogether, Master Digby, let me tell you,"
retorted Mrs Carter. She was the only person in the establishment who
ventured to thwart the young gentleman, though he did not love the old
lady the worse for that. Digby was Mr Heathcote's eldest son and heir. He had just attained the
mature age of nine years, and had hitherto in many respects been
considerably spoilt. Mr Heathcote had not succeeded to his property
till rather late in life, and he had not till then married. A son had
long been wished for, and when one was given, the grateful hearts of the
parents felt that they could not prize him too much. Too thankful they
might not have been, but they petted and indulged him more than was for
his good. He had also three elder sisters. They, in their fondness,
did their best to spoil him; indeed, as Mrs Carter used to observe to
Alesbury, the butler, she was afraid Master Digby would soon become as
much of a pickle as any she had in her store room. He was a sturdy
little fellow, with fat, rosy cheeks, and a figure which already gave
promise of considerable muscular powers. Alesbury was wont to remark
that it was quite a pity Master Digby had not been born a younger
instead of an elder son, he seemed so well able to fight his way in the
world. He had a fair complexion already a little tanned, by the by
light brown curling hair with a tinge of gold in it, he had good sized
honest eyes, and looked as he was from head to foot a thorough English
boy. He had been spoilt hitherto, certainly, but not altogether so. He
had been taught by both his parents to worship and fear God, and to hate
and abhor a lie. He had only once been known to tell an untruth, and
then Mr Heathcote did what very nearly broke his heart to do; he
flogged him severely, and shut him up, and would not speak to him for
the remainder of the day. Digby did not care much about the pain of the
flogging, but he felt the disgrace keenly, and it impressed on his mind
the enormity of the crime of which he had been guilty. I believe that
he never after that event uttered a falsehood. His very varied tricks
and numerous eccentric pranks were therefore constantly being brought to
light, when less honest boys might have managed to escape detection for
those they had committed; but few could find it in their hearts to
punish the young heir of Bloxholme when he ingenuously confessed his
fault, and expressed himself, as he really felt at the time, sorry for
what he had done. "Oh, Master Digby! Master Digby! what would your mamma say if she saw
you now?" continued Mrs Carter... Continue reading book >>
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Fiction |
Teen/Young adult |
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