A Drake by George!. Trevena John

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       John Trevena

      A Drake by George!

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4064066157951

Table of Contents

       CHAPTER I

       SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMILY

       CHAPTER II

       EXHIBITION DAY AT WINDWARD HOUSE

       CHAPTER III

       THE CAPTAIN MAKES HISTORY

       CHAPTER IV

       CHANGES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT

       CHAPTER V

       GEORGE TACKLES THE LABOUR PROBLEM

       CHAPTER VI

       HONOURABLE INTENTIONS

       CHAPTER VII

       SCANDAL AND EXPOSURE

       CHAPTER VIII

       A TANGLED INHERITANCE

       CHAPTER IX

       A SUBTLE SINNER'S SUCCESS

       CHAPTER X

       THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR PARAMOUNT

       CHAPTER XI

       SOME LEADING INCIDENTS

       CHAPTER XII

       A SPLENDID BARGAIN

       CHAPTER XIII

       WASPS AND OTHER WORRIES

       CHAPTER XIV

       THE GRABBERS

       CHAPTER XV

       A NEW HOUSE AND THE SAME OLD FURNITURE

       CHAPTER XVI

       GEORGE TAKES CONTROL

       CHAPTER XVII

       PLOUGHING THE GROUND

       CHAPTER XVIII

       SOWING THE SEED

       CHAPTER XIX

       REAPING THE HARVEST

       CHAPTER XX

       THE GLEANERS

CHAPTER I

       Table of Contents

SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMILY

       Table of Contents

      Rumour, introducing the newcomer as a celebrity, began to fly about immediately Captain Drake appeared upon the scene and distinguished himself not only by blocking the single narrow street of Highfield with a presence weighing two hundred and fifty pounds, but by addressing passing men, women, and children in a voice which sounded from the church at the top of the hill to the post office at the bottom; top, middle, and bottom being comparative terms when applied to the great hills of Highfield. Rumour provoked excitement when it suggested legal influences were at work about a couple of old semi-detached cottages belonging to an absentee landlord. The man who found it necessary, on account of his bulk and stentorian voice, to acquire two cottages would have plenty of money; and wealth was much the shortest cut to fame that Highfield knew of. Rumour passed into a condition almost hysterical when builders arrived, demolished the two old cottages, erected a gabled villa of suburban type, and set up against the street a massive noticeboard, which looked as if it had been designed for some important railway station; but instead of yielding such information as "Mazeworthy Junction. Change for the Asylum," it bore the inscription, "Windward House. Captain Francis Drake, Master."

      Finally, three vanloads of furniture were dragged up the hill, and the family arrived to take possession of the parish; for it became at once evident that Captain Drake regarded himself as "old man" of the place, the vicar as his sky pilot, and the male inhabitants as crushers, jollies, flatfeet, and shellbacks, all of whom were amenable to his discipline.

      In any case the Captain was respected by everybody, whether they had the privilege of knowing him or not—he was one of those