His Grace of Osmonde

His Grace of Osmonde (1897) is a historical satire by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Excerpt from the book: Upon the village of Camylott there had rested since the earliest peep of dawn a hush of affectionate and anxious expectancy, the very plough-boys going about their labours without boisterous laughter, the children playing quietly, and the good wives bustling less and modulating the sharpness of their voices, the most motherly among them in truth finding themselves falling into whispering as they gossiped of the great subject of the hour. 'The swallows were but just beginning to stir when I heard the horses' hoofs a-clatter,' said Dame Watt to her neighbour as they stood in close confab in her small front garden. 'Lord's mercy! though I have lain down expecting it every night for a week, the heart of me leapt up in my throat and I jounced Gregory with a thump in his back to wake him from his snoring. 'Gregory,' cries I, 'tis sure begun. God be kind to her young Grace this day.''