Read "Sink or Swim? , Volume I" by Matilda Charlotte Houstoun online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Family prayers were over at the Castle. The ladies and gentlemen, who I / fear were very little the better for the ceremony, and the servants, / who, if they prayed at that time in the morning at all, would probably / have infinitely preferred doing so in their so-called "closets" than / under the eyes of their employers, had each and all risen from their / knees; and breakfast, never much of a meal, according to the young men's / view of the matter, was in progress.
"A fine day for the wedding, eh? " remarked Arthur. "I'm glad you're / going, ma'am; John is one of the best fellows going. I owe him some / attention for teaching me to ride. A deuced stick, too, I was at first, / and a precious deal of trouble I gave him. There is nothing like / beginning early though, and John was as patient as -- "