Cloister and the Hearth

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1864. Excerpt: ... little bounds into the middle of the floor, and there turned a pirouette. "There, mistress," said she, "I give in, 'tis you that reigns supreme with the men; leastways with male children." "Young man," said the mistress, "this girl is not so stupid as her deportment: in reading of faces, and frying of omelets, there we are great. 'Twould be hard if we failed at these arts, since they are about all we do know." "You do not quite take me, dame," said Gerard. "That honesty in a face should shine forth to your experienced eye, that seems reasonable: but how by looking on Denys here could you learn his one little foible, his insanity, his miserable mulierosity?" Poor Gerard got angrier the more he thought of it. "His mule -- his what?" (crossing herself with superstitious awe at the polysyllable.) "Nay, 'tis but the word I was fain to invent for him." "Invent? What can a child like you make other words than grow in Burgundy by nature? Take heed what ye do! •why we are overrun with them already, especially bad ones. Lord, these be times. I look to hear of a new thistle invented next." "Well then, .dame, mulierose -- that means wrapped up, body and soul, in women. So prithee tell me; how did you ever detect the noodle's mulierosity?" "Alas! good youth, you make a mountain of a molehill. We that are women be notice-takers; and out of the tail of our eye see more than most men can, glaring through a prospect glass. Whiles I move to and fro doing this and that, my glance is still on my guests, and I did notice that this soldier's eyes were never off the womenfolk: my daughter, or Marion, or even an old woman like me, all was gold to him: and there a sat glowering; oh you foolish, foolish, man! Now you still turned to the speaker, her or him, and that is common sense." Denys burst into a...