Wives and Daughters: An Every-Day Story - Page 130/572

"I never write to her," said Molly, rather shortly.

Tea came in; and after that they all went to bed. Molly heard her

father exclaim at the fire in his bedroom, and Mr. Preston's reply--

"I pique myself on my keen relish for all creature comforts, and also

on my power of doing without them, if need be. My lord's woods are

ample, and I indulge myself with a fire in my bedroom for nine months

in the year; yet I could travel in Iceland without wincing from the

cold."