The Frog Earl Read Online Free PDF Page A

tell anyone about finding you fishing for tadpoles.”
    “With no hat or gloves and all on my own. But I get so tired of being always prim and proper! I suppose people would be shocked. I met Sir Wilfred on my way to the vicarage this morning and I was afraid he would ask why Jacko was carrying a butterfly net.” Mimi's giggle was cut short. She stared at Harriet with an arrested look. “That's it!”
    “What's what?”
    “I have a plan!”
    “Another one? What kind of plan?” asked Harriet, her misgivings obvious.
    “To make all those wretched men start courting you again, instead of me. It should not be difficult, since they are only in love with my fortune. After all, you are prettier than me by far.” Mimi deeply envied Harriet's fair ringlets, rosy cheeks, and blue eyes. “I wish I could give you half my dowry,” she went on. “I have plenty for two, but I suppose that would be considered improper for some obscure reason.”
    “I'm afraid so.” Harriet's laugh was somewhat shaky. “Does your generosity know no bounds, Mimi? As it is, I am indebted to you for my riding habit, my mount—a dozen things.”
    “If your mama had not permitted you to accept the habit, I'd have had to take lessons alone and ride alone. Except for Jacko.” She flashed a smile back at the groom lest his feelings be hurt.
    “So you somehow managed to persuade Mama that riding without a companion would make you utterly miserable. Not that I am complaining. I enjoy our rides and I love Shridatta,” she stroked her horse's neck, “even if I cannot pronounce her name properly.”
    “You see, my projects always turn out for the best,” said Mimi triumphantly.
    “Tell me your new plan.”
    “I'm going to stop behaving like a demure, proper young lady all the time. If Mr. Pell and Sir Wilfred and the others disapprove of my conduct, they are bound to turn back to you, do you not think?”
    “Mimi, you cannot! I know you don't care for any of the young gentlemen hereabouts, but if you lose your reputation no one will marry you.”
    “I'm not sure that I want to marry, especially someone who only wants my money. I'm quite happy living with Papa.”
    “You don't want a family of your own? Children? It is what every female wishes for.”
    “Well, perhaps, one day. Anyway, I don't mean to do anything so very scandalous, just to stop considering all the time what people will think of my actions. After living in purdah in India, England seemed very free, but you are fenced in by just as many silly rules and conventions, only different ones. Why should I always wear a hat when I go out?”
    “Because otherwise the sunshine will make your complexion... Oh!”
    Mimi laughed merrily. “You see? And anyway, it's cloudy more often than not.”
    “It does seem a bit silly when you think about it.” The vicar's daughter sounded doubtful.
    “To start with, I shall tell everyone about my tadpoles. That is not so very shocking, is it?”
    “Not improper, to be sure, but rather eccentric.”
    “That's just what I want Sir Wilfred to think. I shall invite him to come to the scullery to see them.”
    “I thought you put the tadpoles in the pond.”
    “I took some home so that I can watch how they grow and change.”
    Harriet sighed. “Definitely eccentric, but I do thank you, Mimi. Only I cannot help hoping that the man who saw you fishing will not spread the story. I wonder whether he is staying in the neighborhood.”
    “I daresay he was just passing through.” Mimi didn't really believe that. She rather thought Mr. Simon Hurst must be staying at Mere House, and she was not at all sure whether she wanted to meet him again or not.
    They rode on in thoughtful silence.
    Lady Thompson's butler opened the front door to them and Mimi handed him the butterfly net.
    “A successful expedition, miss?” he inquired, taking it gingerly between thumb and forefinger.
    “Yes, thank you, Baird.”
    “If you mean to take up angling, miss, I