Excerpt: ...at breakfast; but her rasher of bacon had not been half eaten, before she had perceived that, as to possessing him as she used to do at home, he was just as much everybody else's Uncle Regie as hers, for during the time of their being stationed at Belfast, he had been so often with them, that he was quite established as the prince of playfellows. 'Uncle Regie, will you have a crack at the rabbits tomorrow? Brown said we might have a day, and we have been keeping it for you.' 'Uncle Regie, the hounds meet at the ...
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Excerpt: ...at breakfast; but her rasher of bacon had not been half eaten, before she had perceived that, as to possessing him as she used to do at home, he was just as much everybody else's Uncle Regie as hers, for during the time of their being stationed at Belfast, he had been so often with them, that he was quite established as the prince of playfellows. 'Uncle Regie, will you have a crack at the rabbits tomorrow? Brown said we might have a day, and we have been keeping it for you.' 'Uncle Regie, the hounds meet at the Bugle this morning, won't you come and see them throw off?' 'Oh, let me come too!' 'And me!' 'And me!' 'My dear children, ' exclaimed their mother, 'I can't have the whole tribe of little ones and girls going galloping after your uncle. You will only hinder him.' 'No, no, Lily! the more Merrifields, the merrier the field. I'll drill them well. How far off is this Bugle?' 'Not two miles over Furzy Common.' 'Oh! not so far, Hal!' 'That's nothing. Who is coming?' A general outbreak of 'Me's' ensued, but mamma laid an embargo on Primrose, who must stay at home and 'help her, ' while Gillian looked wistful and doubtful, knowing that more efficient help than the little one's might be desirable. 'You had better go, my dear, ' said her mother, 'if you are not tired. I don't like to send Mysie and Val without some one to turn back with them if your uncle and the boys want to go further.' But whereas it was not nearly time to start, Uncle Reginald was dragged down to inspect all the live stock in the stable-yard, at their feeding-time, and went off with Val and Primrose clinging to his hands, and the general rabble surrounding him. Nothing could have been more alien to Dolores's taste than going out to a meet on foot through mud and mire--she who hated the being driven out to take a constitutional walk on the gravel road or the paved path! But she had some hope that while all the others ran off madly, as was their wont, she might secure a little rational...
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