Carola Dunn Read Online Free PDF

Patterdale.”
    Angel dissolved in giggles.
    “I’m very happy for Miss Betsy,” said Catherine, “but I cannot guess why you are telling us this, Mr Burchett.”
    “Camouflage,” he revealed proudly. “Pa says y’r ma’s a lady, so if he thinks I’m courting you, he’ll let me bide. Don’t mind, do you? Won’t bother you much, but you might like to come up to Beckside one day, see the animals. Know ladies like kittens and calves and lambs and such.”
    “I’m sure we’d be happy to accept your invitation, sir. Wouldn’t we, Lyn?” said Catherine severely.
    “Oh, yes,” gasped Angel. “Love kittens. Have any puppies?”
    “Lots.” He opened the gate for them, bowed again, and went off with a cheerful wave.
    “What an odd young man!” Catherine exclaimed, laughing. “There is certainly no humbug about him. The very soul of candour. I rather liked him. Oh, do look, Angel!” She pointed to the northwest.
    The churchyard was completely surrounded by tall yews, and not until they were well into the vicarage garden did the newly revealed panorama become visible. Behind the house, a brilliantly green meadow stretched in the sun down to a stream edged by willows and alders. On the far side, a cart track ran parallel, backed by a stone wall, beyond which more meadows climbed to woodland, then bare fell, then up and up to the towering mass of Helvellyn mountain, huge beyond belief, its summit standing out clear-cut against a pale blue sky.
    “I want to climb it,” breathed Angel. “Let’s go this afternoon.”
    “Oh, Angel, surely it would take a whole day! I believe there are paths, but one should have a guide, I expect, and take food.”
    “But it is such a fine day, I hate to waste it. It will probably rain again tomorrow.”
    “There are certainly shorter walks we might take today. Think of woods and rocky dells and waterfalls. Let’s follow our own stream down there, and see where it takes us.”
    They asked permission over luncheon. Catherine and her mother watched with envy as Angel consumed enough cold lamb and well-buttered bread for two, and finished up with a dish of strawberries drowning in sugar and cream. “May we walk along the stream this afternoon?” she asked between mouthfuls.
    No objection was raised to this plan, so after changing their gowns and footwear, the young ladies strolled across the meadow. A pair of brown-eyed cows raised their heads to stare at the intruders, then went back to cropping the lush grass and buttercups.
    To Angel’s delight, there were stepping stones leading across the water to the track on the other side. She bounced across, while Catherine followed more cautiously. By mutual consent they turned upstream.
    On their left, the clear water chattered over its rocky bed. The drystone wall on their right sheltered a myriad flowers: foxgloves, yarrow, campion, and toadflax, purple knapweed and scarlet pimpernel. Butterflies fluttered by and the air was full of the hum of bees and the distant lowing of cattle.
    “What did you think of Lady Elizabeth?” asked Angel, after they had walked for a while in silent contentment.
    “I hardly spoke to her,” Catherine answered. “A quiet little mouse, though pretty enough, with that dark hair, if her face had more animation.”
    “She had plenty to say when I asked her the right questions, but she is shockingly shy. Of course she never gets a word in edgewise with that odious woman around. I daresay she is out of practice. Her papa sounds monstrous disagreeable too. Only imagine casting off his only son because he ran away to join the army! I am sure she must miss her brother, and her mama too.’’
    “Did she speak of them?”
    “No, but she will. I was not with her for longer than ten minutes but already I have her confidence, I think. The poor child has had no friends!”
    “Child! She must be quite your age, Angel.”
    “She is so little and shy, I feel I must protect her.”
    “An unprecedented feeling,