No one could get on terms with those fresh and comely
young monsters! They just tolerated their parents and seemed to have a
sort of mocking understanding among themselves against all outsiders, yet
with no visible affection for each other. They had the habit of
exchanging derisive glances which to a shy man must have been very
trying. They thought their uncle no doubt a bore and perhaps an ass.
I was not surprised to hear that very soon Anthony formed the habit of
crossing the two neighbouring fields to seek the shade of a clump of elms
at a good distance from the cottage. He lay on the grass and smoked his
pipe all the morning. Mrs. Fyne wondered at her brother's indolent
habits. He had asked for books it is true but there were but few in the
cottage. He read them through in three days and then continued to lie
contentedly on his back with no other companion but his pipe. Amazing
indolence! The live-long morning, Mrs. Fyne, busy writing upstairs in
the cottage, could see him out of the window. She had a very long sight,
and these elms were grouped on a rise of the ground.
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