It was a little fast, but the school children
did not know that, and they began to think that Mr. Wilson was going to keep them in for
ever. <...> The school at Hayton was a red brick building, standing full on the high-road,
without any play ground; but then the fields were close at hand, and the boys were allowed a cricket
ground in Lord Ellard's park, so they were not so very badly off after all. <...> A little lower down came the vicarage, and a straggling
row of cottages. <...> On this
particular morning, three girls were having a cosy little meal all to themselves, at the further end of
the yard, out of sight of the high-road. <...> Chrissy Redfern, their companion, was unlike them in every way, but they were listening to
her eager chatter with respectful attention. <...> Chrissy's thin little face was stained with tears, shed over
an obstinate sum, but her dark eyes sparkled as she talked, and her pale, yellow hair crisped and
tangled in the fresh breeze. <...> The recollection of her late disgrace did not seem to weigh upon her
spirits, although the sum still stood unfinished on her slate.
"I'll tell you what it is!" she cried, in her shrill little voice, "I'm not the sort of girl to come to
a common sort of a school like this. <...> There's that new lady come to Mrs. Bond's house, she's opening
a young Ladies' Academy, and I mean to get uncle to send me there. <...> I should learn fancy-work, and
the piano — oh, it's a beautiful school, I 'm sure, Edie and Jane, won't you persuade your father to
let you come with me?"
Edie Black shook her sensible little head. ''Tisn't for the likes of us" she said. "And do
look at your fingers, Chris! you couldn't play the piano when you keep them like that."
Chrissy spread out her grubby little hands. "I s'pose I could wash them," she said. "Oh! <...> My father was a gentleman <...>
Foolish_Chrissy,_or_Discontent_and_its_consequences.pdf
CONTENTS
FOOLISH CHRISSY. ......................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER I. CRISSY LOSES HER TEMPER.............................................................................. 3
CHAPTER II. A LITTLE TRESPASSER....................................................................................... 7
CHAPTER III. IN SUSPENSE...................................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER IV CHRISSY'S WONDERFUL BARGAIN. ............................................................. 16
CHAPTER V. A NEW ACQUAINTANCE.................................................................................. 20
CHAPTER VI. CHRISSY'S DECISION....................................................................................... 24
CHAPTER VII. TWO YEARS LATER........................................................................................ 28
CHAPTER VIII TROUBLES THICKEN. .................................................................................... 31
CHAPTER IX. A TERRIBLE WEEK........................................................................................... 35
CHAPTER X. THE RESULT OF HER FOLLY........................................................................... 39
CHAPTER XI. AFTER FIVE YEAES.......................................................................................... 43
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FOOLISH CHRISSY.
CHAPTER I.
CRISSY LOSES HER TEMPER.
HE clock over the Hall stables struck twelve. It was a little fast, but the school children
did not know that, and they began to think that Mr. Wilson was going to keep them in for
ever. However, in due season came the word of dismissal, and out they all trooped into the
fresh March air.
The school at Hayton was a red brick building, standing full on the high-road,
without any play ground; but then the fields were close at hand, and the boys were allowed a cricket
ground in Lord Ellard's park, so they were not so very badly off after all.
On the opposite side of the road the long, green churchyard sloped up to the church itself,
opening out, on the other side, into the park. A little lower down came the vicarage, and a straggling
row of cottages.
During school hours the village seemed asleep;but when the children were let loose it woke
up with start into loud laughter, and shouting, and noise. Most of them ran straight home to
dinner, but one or two, who lived at a greater distance, brought their luncheon with them, and ate it
in the infant-school yard, which was wedged in between the vicarage and the churchyard. On this
particular morning, three girls were having a cosy little meal all to themselves, at the further end of
the yard, out of sight of the high-road.
Two of the trio were sisters: tidy, bright-faced, little women, who bore the reputation of
being the best and steadiest girls in the school.
Chrissy Redfern, their companion, was unlike them in every way, but they were listening to
her eager chatter with respectful attention. Chrissy's thin little face was stained with tears, shed over
an obstinate sum, but her dark eyes sparkled as she talked, and her pale, yellow hair crisped and
tangled in the fresh breeze. The recollection of her late disgrace did not seem to weigh upon her
spirits, although the sum still stood unfinished on her slate.
"I'll tell you what it is!" she cried, in her shrill little voice, "I'm not the sort of girl to come to
a common sort of a school like this. There's that new lady come to Mrs. Bond's house, she's opening
a young Ladies' Academy, and I mean to get uncle to send me there. I should learn fancy-work, and
the piano — oh, it's a beautiful school, I 'm sure, Edie and Jane, won't you persuade your father to
let you come with me?"
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