Lonely Stronghold

Baillie Reynolds Mrs.

Description

Set against the backdrop of World War I, The Lonely Stronghold follows the adventures of the indefatigable Olwen Innes, a young English woman who leaves her comfortable routine behind to venture out into the wider world -- only to encounter a series of less-than-desirable circumstances.

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 octobre 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776592654
• Langue: English

Extrait

THE LONELY STRONGHOLD
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MRS. BAILLIE REYNOLDS
 
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The Lonely Stronghold First published in 1918 Epub ISBN 978-1-77659-265-4 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77659-266-1 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - The Palatine Bank Chapter II - Olwen at Home Chapter III - "What is a Pele Exactly?" Chapter IV - Her First Offer Chapter V - Traveller's Joy Chapter VI - Commencing Acquaintance Chapter VII - The Dark Tower Chapter VIII - The First Day Chapter IX - Indian Magic Chapter X - A Queer Household Chapter XI - Miss Lily Martin Chapter XII - A Confidence: And Some Spying Chapter XIII - Ninian's Defence Chapter XIV - A Fresh Start Chapter XV - A Cold Walk Chapter XVI - A Little Friction Chapter XVII - Balmayne's Warning Chapter XVIII - Visitors Chapter XIX - A Discovery Chapter XX - The Philtre Chapter XXI - By the Loughside Chapter XXII - The Mile-Castle Chapter XXIII - What the Dawn Brought Chapter XXIV - The Final Warning Chapter XXV - The Unexpected Chapter XXVI - Ninian's Twin Chapter XXVII - The Final Insult Chapter XXVIII - Escape Chapter XXIX - Bramforth Again Chapter XXX - The Incredible Truth Chapter XXXI - The Changed World Chapter XXXII - One Twin Returns Chapter XXXIII - The Bull-Drop Chapter XXXIV - The Mile-Castle Again Chapter XXXV - 'Twixt Cup and Lip Chapter XXXVI - In the Dark Chapter XXXVII - Vindicated
Chapter I - The Palatine Bank
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The sleet drove spitefully against the dirty windows of the stuffy roombehind the Palatine Bank in the High Street of Bramforth.
The air was close, without being warm; a smell of tea and toasted breadlingered upon it. The clock struck, and the girls who sat upon theirhigh stools, cramped over columns of figures, straightened their backswith long sighs of relief.
"Snakes! What weather!" muttered Miss Hand as she pushed back her stooluntil it almost overbalanced in her efforts to gaze at the Decembernight without.
"With my usual luck, came without a gamp this morning," grumbled MissTurner, collecting loose sheets with a dexterity born of long practice.
"And you've got a mile to walk when you get off the tram," exclaimedMiss Donkin sympathetically.
Mrs. Barnes, who presided, seated not at a desk but at a central table,wiped her pen, looking across the zoom with knitted brows.
"It has struck, Miss Innes," said she.
The click of the typewriter went on nevertheless, and the operatorreplied without desisting from her work. "Let me get to the foot of thispage, please."
There began the rustle and murmur of the girls leaving their places, inwhat was described by the bank managers as "The ladies' room." MabelHirst, a pretty girl with dark eyes, ran to the fire and held herchilblained hands to its warmth. "Oh, my goody," said she, "when willold Storky start in on that 'chauffage centrale' which he is alwaysgassing about?"
"At the coming of the coquecigrues, I should think," said the voice ofMiss Innes, who now ceased her clicking, rose from her chair, and raisedher arms above her head, breathing a long "A-ah!" of relief.
"Not that I think it would be much improvement," she went on. "Itprobably wouldn't work. Nothing does work in this old town; and aslong as we have the fire there is at least one place where you can goand thaw now and then."
An electric bell rang twice.
"Hallo, Barney, old Storky wants you," said Mabel Hirst. "Beg him toaccept my compliments, and ask if he ever gives compensation forchilblains."
"Tell him it's my birthday to-morrow!"
"Say you think my work during this past quarter merits a rise!"
"Suggest he gives us a Christmas treat—stalls for the panto!"
The chorus was practically simultaneous, and Mrs. Barnes put her handsover her ears. "I'm far more likely to ask permission to increase thefines for talking," was her parting shaft, as she vanished in obedienceto the summons.
"You look a bit fagged, Innes," remarked Mabel Hirst, as the typistapproached the fire, and knelt down so that the flames shone upon hersmall, intense face.
"Oh, it's not fag so much as disgust," she replied, in a voice ofindividual quality. "I don't think I can stick this any longer. Ididn't take a secretarial training in order to type out rows of figuresall day long. I am bored, dears—bored stiff! All my powers arewasting their sweetness on the desert air—or rather the town lack ofair! The desert would be all right. I shouldn't a scrap mind blushingunseen if I had plenty of space to blush in! Ouf! I feel as if Ishould choke!"
She stared at the fire with firmly folded lips, every line of herslender person seeming to breathe the resentment she felt.
"It's pretty bad," agreed Miss Turner, who was lacing up her hoots."Suppose nobody's got a raincloak they'll be saint enough to lend?"
"Yes," replied Miss Innes, "you shall have mine. I brought a gamp, andI haven't far to walk. But look here—mind you bring it back."
"Course I will. To-morrow without fail, moddum. Oh, this sleet! Itreally is something chronic."
The dressing-room opened out of the office, but in the absence of Barneythe connecting door stood wide, against all rules, and the girls went inand out, warming their boots before putting them on, commenting on thefrozen water-pipes and kindred grievances, after the manned of theirkind all the world over.
In the midst of it, the superintendent returned.
"Hallo! What did the old bird want? Give you the sack, or tell you tobestow it on any of us?"
"I'm sure it was about a Christmas tree for the young ladies, inrecognition of the fine work they have put in—"
"Nat quite that, but the next best thing," replied Barney, in a cheerfultone. "In view of the coming heavy work in the New Year, you and I areto have an extra day for Christmas—the 24th to the 28th! What d'youthink of that?"
There was a whoop of joy, and the babel of voices broke out anew.
"If only he would give us the day before instead of after," sighed onemalcontent "If we had Christmas Eve now—"
"My dear, you know that's impossible at a bank. Take your extra day andgive thanks for it. It's more than the men are getting," was therejoinder of Mrs. Barnes.
"Three whole days!" echoed Blanche Turner. "I shall have forgotten youall by the time we reassemble. Think of that! Shan't know you bysight!"
"I can easily believe that! Having spent your holiday entirely at the'movies,' your sight will have given out," jeered Miss Donkin. "Thenyou'll lose your job, my girl."
"I shall go to Leeds, to my aunt!"
"And I to Driffield."
"And I home."
The chatter waxed louder and louder, as gradually girl after girl gotready. Then they began to depart, drifting out by twos and threesthrough a side door into an alley giving upon the High Street.
Miss Innes was last. She stood alone before the little looking-glassfitting her hat dexterously upon her gleaming hair, her eyesmechanically assisting at the process, but really far away with her busythoughts. She had not anticipated such a violent downpour as greetedher when she emerged into the street; and as she crossed, to await atram, she half regretted her loan of her cloak to Miss Turner. She waslucky enough to get a place in the first car that passed. Ten minutes'journey brought her to the residential suburb of the ugly town, and asshe descended into the road the rain poured down upon her with suchvehemence that she took shelter under a tree for a minute, in order toget her breath and decide what to do.
Struck by a happy idea, she turned into a road close by, and made herway to a detached house, standing inside a wall with two carriage gates.In the comparative shelter of the porch she halted and rang the bell.
The middle-aged servant who admitted her said with a smile that Mrs.Holroyd and Miss Gracie were in the dining-room.
Miss Innes wiped the rain from her face, placed her dripping umbrella inthe stand, and opened the door of a hot, over-furnished, but comfortableroom, in which a stout, rather shapeless lady and a good-humoured girlwho would be a duplicate of her mother in twenty years' time, sat at ahuge dining-table strewn with paper, string and parcels.
"Olwen!" cried Gracie, jumping up with a pleased cry of greeting.
"Why, how do you do? We're downright pleased to see you. I was sayingto Gracie, it was only yesterday, that Ollie never takes advantage ofour invitation to drop in upon us any night on her way back from thebank. So here we are as usual! Busy with the Christmas packing! Butit's almost done now, and as I say to Gracie, when it's done, it's donefor a year, that's one good thing."
Olwen kissed the jolly lady. "I feel a regular beggar," said she. "Ihave come in now for the sordid reason that I want to borrow something.And you pay the penalty for being the kindest people I know."
"My dear! Anything we can lend you!—"
Olwen explained that her raincoat had been borrowed, and that the stormwas so severe that she feared to reach the Vicarage wet through withoutone. "If Gracie will lend me hers I can leave it as I go down to-morrowmorning," said she.
"Well, of course! But now you're here, won't you stay the evening?Pa'll be in, and Ben, for supper before so very long, and we'll clear upthis mess in no time. Now do, child! Think how pleased Ben'll be tofind you here!"
"You are always so kind, but I can't, really. To begin with, I alwaysfeel so soiled in my office frock. Gracie will know what I mean! And,to go on with, this evening is my only time for any little Christ