Rollica Reed

When Rollica Reed is left an orphan at the age of sixteen, a friend of her father's takes her in, much to the dismay of his wife and two older daughters who consider themselves to be the cream of Victorian society. The wife and daughters resent Rollica as an intruder, and try to make her life wretched, humiliating her in front of friends and telling her she is too common to be a lady. The two unmarried daughters are also concerned by Rollica's naturally good looks, and want to cut her off from meeting any of their friends. Rollica soon learns she must not show any sign of weakness if she is to survive. But can she ever forgive?

Rollica Reed

by

Eliza Kerr

White Tree Publishing

Abridged Edition

Original book first published 1890

This abridged edition ©Chris Wright 2018

e-Book ISBN: 978-1-9997899-6-1

Published by

White Tree Publishing

Bristol

UNITED KINGDOM

wtpbristol@gmail.com

Full list of books and updates on

www.whitetreepublishing.com

Rollica Reed is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this abridged edition.

Table of Contents

Cover

About the Book

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

About White Tree Publishing

More Books from White Tree Publishing

Christian non-fiction

Christian Fiction

Younger Readers

Introduction

There were many prolific Christian writers in the last part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth. The majority of these books were fairly heavy-handed moral tales and warnings to young people, rather than romances. Two writers spring to mind who wrote romantic fiction for adults -- Mrs. O. F. Walton and Margaret S. Haycraft, whose works are still popular today. Our White Tree Publishing editions from these authors have been sensitively abridged and edited to make them much more acceptable to today's general readers, rather than publishing them unedited for students of Victorian prose. The characters and storyline are always left intact.

Eliza Kerr is less well known than Mrs. Walton and Margaret Haycraft, but she wrote similar books, but with perhaps less emphasis on romance, but in a similar style to the books of Walton and Haycraft. We have already welcomed Hazel Haldene and Keena Karmody to our catalogue, and will be publishing more books from Eliza Kerr in 2018. The titles and release dates will be announced on our website.

Victorian and early twentieth century books by Christian and secular writers can be over-sentimental, referring throughout, for example, to a mother as the dear, sweet mother, and a child as the darling little child. In our abridged editions overindulgent descriptions of people have been shortened to make a more robust story, but the characters and storylines are always unchanged.

A problem of Victorian writers is the tendency to insert intrusive comments concerning what is going to happen later in the story. Today we call them spoilers. They are usually along the lines of: Little did he/she know that.... I have removed these when appropriate.

£6,000 in the late 1800s may not sound much, but in value it is worth about £750,000 pounds today (about US $1,000,000). I mention this in case the sums of money in this book sound insignificant!

Chris Wright

Editor

NOTE

There are 23 chapters in this book. In the second half are advertisements for our other books, so the story may end earlier than expected! The last chapter is marked as such. We aim to make our eBooks free or for a nominal cost, and cannot invest in other forms of advertising. However, word of mouth by satisfied readers will also help get our books more widely known. When the story ends, please take a look at what we publish: Christian non-fiction, Christian fiction, and books for younger readers.

Chapter 1

I THINK you said she was not a relation, mother, said Adelaide Hamilton languidly, as she sat by the drawing room fire one cold November afternoon. Why then are we extending our charity to her? If father has so much money that he must spend it on strangers in order to get rid of it, he might increase our dress allowance. I am sure no girls in the neighbourhood have such small allowances to dress on as Kate and I have. Amy Hudson has twice as much, and her father is not so very rich.

Dr. Hudson has a very good practice, answered Mrs. Hamilton. But this girl, Rollica Reed, is a relation of your father's on her mother's side, and now that she is left destitute he finds it his duty to take her into his house. Indeed, he told me she was to be treated as a daughter, added the lady wrathfully, and with a scornful toss of her head. "Imagine my receiving an insignificant nobody as a daughter!"

We cannot imagine it, mother dear, laughed Kate Hamilton, who entered the room at that moment. All the Darcy pride would be up in arms at the idea. I suppose the insignificant nobody is Rollica Reed?

You may laugh, Kate, said Adelaide, an angry colour rising in her cheeks, but you won't like another girl in the house who will take the money that ought to be ours for dress.

No, I won't like that, certainly; but if she does get money for dress, I will see that most of it goes into my own pocket.

I would be glad to know how you are going to manage that, spoke Adelaide, with an incredulous smile.

I shall manage it. You are too lazy sometimes to look after your own interests, but I am never lazy. Perhaps I have not your repose of manner, or the calm pride of my lady mother, but I am successful enough in society. What do I care for more? I shall persuade, or make, our young relative give me what I want.

You must be careful what you do, said Mrs. Hamilton quickly and somewhat anxiously. Her younger daughter was occasionally a source of vexation and trouble to her. Your father will not allow any injustice to his old friend's child, should it come to his ears.

Oh, I'll be careful enough, returned Kate. Father won't hear any tales.

You were not careful about Bathsheba, persisted Mrs. Hamilton almost angrily. You know how annoyed your father was about that affair. I don't want any unpleasantness just now, for our party must be a success.

But Bathsheba is different, and perhaps I was rather too outspoken that time. Father is so odd in some things. Fancy having a cousin a charwoman in the very neighbourhood in which we live, and fancy being obliged to employ her in our own house!

"She is not a cousin, spoke Mrs. Hamilton haughtily. And many good families have poor relations."

"Well, she said she was my cousin, as impudently as possible that day I met her on the stairs."

You should have taken no notice of her. People of her class are always very clever with their tongues. They allow themselves a freedom of speech not permissible amongst ladies and gentlemen. She never insults me, or talks impertinently. You deserved what she gave you that day for interfering with her at all.

Kate turned away with an indignant movement. She would have liked to have answered her mother rudely, but she dared not do so. She was not afraid to laugh and talk with absolute freedom, but Mrs. Hamilton did not permit any outward disrespect, though Kate often spoke to her in a manner that she highly disapproved of.

Mr. Hamilton was a wealthy solicitor, living with his wife, his two daughters and his son in the vicinity of Astley, a little town in the south of England. He was a good-natured, upright man in many respects, well thought of by his neighbours, and rather feared by his wife and selfish daughters. His son George was in partnership with him, and was now twenty-five years of age. Adelaide and Kate were respectively two and three years younger.

About three years before the opening of our story, a shabbily dressed woman, past her first youth, appeared in Mr. Hamilton's office and announced to him that she was a cousin of his, that she was poor, and by trade a charwoman, and that she would be glad of his recommendation on her settling in the town and trying to obtain work.

At first he was considerably annoyed, and refused to believe her statements until she proved clearly that she was speaking nothing but the truth. Then he tried to persuade her to settle in some other town, promising that if she would do so, he would give her a sum of money and a letter vouching for her honesty and respectability.

No, she would try and get work in no other town but Astley, for she was alone in the world, and a stranger in England, she said. She grew more determined when she perceived how much Mr. Hamilton's pride was hurt by the relationship. He thought the matter over seriously for a few minutes. If he refused to help her, she would remain in Astley all the same, for she seemed a resolute woman, and would likely tell everyone that he was ashamed to own the relationship; and then people would laugh at him. On the contrary, if he befriended her, she would probably hold her tongue about the relationship, and no harm would be done.

The fact of his having a poor relation was in itself no disgrace, but it would have been better had she taken up her abode in some other town where he was not known. Having made up his mind at last, he said gravely to her, As you are resolved to remain in Astley, I must help you. I will speak to my wife about you. I believe a woman comes to the house twice a week to help the servants. I will ask Mrs. Hamilton to try you. If she is content with you, that will be introduction enough for you. A woman whom my wife employs will soon have work enough offered to her. If you would keep our relationship as much as possible to yourself, I would be glad, but I place no restriction on you.

She was silent for an instant, then she answered quietly, Thank you. I believe you are a decent, upright man. I will try to hold my tongue about the relationship, but tongue and temper sometimes get the better of my discretion. I'll please your wife, surely. My mother was a well-known Dublin charwoman for many years. I learned the trade off her.

I wish you had stayed in Dublin, thought Mr. Hamilton.

Where do your wife and children live? And where can I get a clean lodging?

He did not like her question about his wife and children.

You must remember, he spoke very gravely, that my wife is a lady, and my daughters have been brought up and educated as ladies. Even if I acknowledge the relationship, they may not care to do so.

Oh, I want none of their society. I only want to earn my bread honestly.

He then directed her where to go for a temporary lodging, and when she had time she could find a suitable home for herself.

You will want a little money to pay your way until you have regular work, he said in conclusion, offering her some silver.

No, thank you, sir, I have what'll keep me until I earn more. I am no beggar.

Then she walked out of the office, a strange-looking figure in her red cloak and close cottage bonnet.

Mrs. Hamilton was very angry when her husband told her of his cousin, Bathsheba O'Connor, but she was obliged to do as he wished in the matter, and after a few months she ceased to trouble herself about her new charwoman. Bathsheba, though peculiar, was quiet in her manner, and gave no cause of offence either to Mrs. Hamilton or Adelaide; but Kate and she had had one serious altercation, on which occasion the charwoman had been the victor, being an adept in the art of bitter replies.

On a cold, wet day late in November, Rollica Reed arrived in her new home. Because of some mistake about the trains, no one had gone to the station to meet her, and feeling very lonely and weary she stood in the hall of The Moat, Mr. Hamilton's house, which was about a mile outside the town. The housemaid opened the drawing room door and announced her, while a strange-looking, black-eyed woman helped to carry in her trunks. Mrs. Hamilton rose from her chair with an exclamation, and kissed her coldly.

We thought you were not coming until the later train, she said in a half-explanatory tone.

Mr. Hamilton entered the room hastily at that moment. Rollica Reed has come, and no one was at the station to meet her! he said sternly.

There was a mistake about the train, replied his wife quickly.

Oh, you are welcome, my dear, he went on, turning to the stranger, and greeting her much more warmly than Mrs. Hamilton had done. You must have had a miserable journey. You will be glad of rest, and tea before dinner. These are my daughters Adelaide and Kate; you will be good friends, I am sure. Kate, take Rollica to her room, and see that she has everything she requires.

Then Mr. Hamilton, satisfied that he had done his duty, and shown his wife and daughters how he wished Rollica to be treated, took up a newspaper and waited for dinner.

Meanwhile Kate led Rollica to her room, a small, badly furnished one next to the servants' apartments.

You are tall for your age, she remarked, while Rollica took off her hat and jacket, and unstrapped one of her trunks.

I don't suppose I shall grow any more, replied the girl, with an involuntary smile at the patronizing tone; I am sixteen.

Oh, I grew after I was sixteen. You are little more than a child. You are not really old enough to dine with us at night, but father will allow you. He is foolish about some things. I see you have not turned your hair up yet. You still wear it down your back in a plait.

My mother liked it arranged in this fashion, was Rollica's answer, while a shadow fell across her face.

Oh, indeed? I hear you have just come from France.

I am only two days in England.

Can you speak French?

Oh yes, I have spoken it all my life, replied Rollica, wondering when Kate would cease questioning her and leave her alone to change her dress.

There was a knock at the bedroom door at that moment. I have brought Miss Reed some hot water, announced Bathsheba, who had not yet gone to her home.

Rollica took the can of hot water with a bright smile, and a pleasant Thank you. She was so glad to get the water, and she had not liked to ask for it.

I need not detain you, Kate. I shall not be long until I am ready for dinner.

Oh, I must go and dress, of course, but no one expects you to dress. You cannot have many dresses, and you will not be noticed. I wonder what kept that woman so late tonight; I mean the odd creature that brought the water. She is a charwoman who comes in to help our servants. It was most impertinent of her to bring you hot water unbidden. I am sure no one told her to do so.

Rollica coloured hotly. Then it was very kind of her to think of me, she said warmly. Is it against the rules of the house to use warm water in the bedrooms in winter?

Certainly not; we use it ourselves. But you are different from us, you know. You must not expect to be treated in the same fashion as a daughter of the house.

Better to show that girl her place at once, she muttered to herself. Father will give her false ideas of her position here, and I am the only one with sufficient energy to put her down. Adelaide will take very little notice of her; and mother ... well, mother will be herself, no doubt. A daughter of the house indeed! Oh no, my dear, not until we are married. But I am afraid she will be pretty; her hair is nice now.

Rollica felt more forlorn than ever when Kate left the bedroom. It was with trembling hands and a strong inclination to weep that she performed her simple toilette, and prepared to descend to the drawing room. But she determined she would not be so foolish as to allow her feelings to overcome her, and she resolved to make the best of everything. Kate surely did not mean to be unkind; perhaps it was only her manner. Mr. Hamilton had been almost affectionate in his welcome, and Mrs. Hamilton and Adelaide had kissed her. No, she would not be imagining trouble that did not exist.

Chapter 2

WHEN Rollica had been a month in The Moat, she perceived that she was not a welcome addition to the household, and the knowledge naturally caused her to feel unhappy and uncomfortable. Mr. Hamilton was always kind to her, and that strange, black-eyed charwoman was very attentive to her when opportunity occurred for such attention. But Mrs. Hamilton was always cold and polite, and Adelaide and Kate took little notice of her. She had as yet seen scarcely anything of their brother George.

She had no other home to go to, and her father had left her to the care of his friend and kinsman, Mr. Hamilton, so she knew she must try to be happy where she was, and try -- yes, try to win the love of her kinsfolk. In two years' time she hoped to be able to earn her livelihood as a governess, for she would then be eighteen. At present she was too young to offer herself for such a position. She had been very well educated, partly by her father himself, and partly by masters. If only she could retain the knowledge she had gained, she might hope to obtain a good post as governess.

One day, just before Christmas, she told Mrs. Hamilton of her plan, and asked if she might practise regularly on the piano in the morning room, and study for a couple of hours every day. That lady would have refused the request at once, but prudence forbade. If the girl forgot what she had learned, she would be unfit to be a governess, and then she would always be in the house in everyone's way, whereas if she obtained a situation in some respectable family at a distance from Astley it would be a good thing for all parties concerned, and Mr. Hamilton could offer no objection.

You are right to wish to support yourself, she said, more graciously than usual. "Mr. Hamilton, though wealthy, has enough to do with his money, and you have no real claim on him. Adelaide and Kate are always requiring new dresses, for they go much into society, as you must have seen, and it is only just they should have every advantage their father's wealth can afford them, Yes; you may sing and play every day, but shut the morning room door, and make as