Free Recollections of Rosings by Rebecca Ann Collins

with such excellent results," he had confessed.
        Catherine, at first a little embarrassed by his praise, had soon realised that his was quite sincere appreciation, and indeed he seemed to like nothing better than to hear her play whenever he was asked to dine at Rosings.
        Occasionally, when Lady Catherine became more involved in conversation with her guests or on occasions when she retired early, he could be persuaded to join Catherine in a duet, revealing a pleasing though not highly trained voice. For Catherine, it had been a welcome change from performing for Her Ladyship alone, from whom she received some little praise, but mostly advice to practice even more assiduously. Frank Burnett openly expressed his pleasure and encouraged her to attempt more difficult works. In return, she had acknowledged his knowledge of art and literature, which went well beyond her level of understanding, and was content to be guided by him in her appreciation of both, keenly reading the books he recommended, thereby unlocking the door to a whole new range of material of which she had known little and providing them with a number of subjects on which they could agreeably and profitably converse.
        With his encouragement, she had entered a world of knowledge that opened up horizons such as she could never have imagined during her days at the parsonage at Hunsford.
        For years, as children, they had heard their father Reverend Collins extol with obsequious enthusiasm the expensive furniture, fireplaces, staircases, and trophies that graced the rooms at Rosings, but at no time had he or anyone else opened her eyes to the treasures in its library.
        For this, she would always be indebted to Frank Burnett.
    ***

        While all these recollections had crowded into her mind as she lay awake, Dr Harrison had slept, fitfully, but without causing her any anxiety.
        Towards morning, Catherine had dozed off and was suddenly awakened by a most alarming sound. She found her husband struggling to breathe, gasping, and trying to sit up in bed. Rushing to his side, she tried to help him but was uncertain what she should do. Afraid, she called to Lilian and Rebecca in their rooms across the corridor. Lilian was at her side in seconds, and finding her father very distressed, she hurried downstairs to send a servant for the doctor. Rebecca, rushing in, found her sister in tears, unable to help her husband, whose breathing had grown more laboured. Together they struggled to alleviate his distress, but with little success. His breathing eased a little, but he was clearly very unwell and they waited impatiently for the doctor.
        By the time Dr Whitelaw arrived, the first streaks of dawn light were colouring the sky and a small chorus of birds had begun to greet the new day. But Dr Harrison, though somewhat less distressed now and breathing more easily, had lapsed into unconsciousness.
        Dr Whitelaw began to fear that his patient had slipped beyond his help. He tried to reassure the ladies, but his concern was difficult to hide and though Dr Harrison lived through the day, he remained unconscious throughout, while all around him, the household was in turmoil.
        The visiting chaplain from Apsley was sent for, and having prayed with them and administered the sacraments, he left. It seemed there was nothing more they could do for Dr Harrison but pray.
        This, they took in turns to do, reading his favourite passages from the gospels and the psalms and sitting by his bedside, all through that long day and into the following night.

    End of Part One

    RECOLLECTIONS OF ROSINGS
    Part Two

Chapter Four
    It was not that Catherine was entirely unprepared for the death of Dr Harrison; she had been very concerned, despite the assurances of Dr Whitelaw at the onset of his illness, that he was not making much progress at all.
        Lilian, too, had seemed unwilling to speak of her father's condition, as