More About Pixie

Pixie O'Shaughnessy #2

by Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey

The night nurse was dusting the room preparatory to going off duty for the day, and Sylvia was lying on her water-bed watching her movements with gloomy, disapproving eyes. For four long weeks-ever since the crisis had passed and she had come back to consciousness of her surroundings-she had watched the same proceeding morning after morning, until its details had become almost unbearably wearisome to her weak nerves. First of all came Mary to sweep the floor-she went down on her knees, and swept up the dust with a small hand-brush, and however carefully she might begin, it was quite, quite certain that she would end by knocking up against the legs of the bed, and giving a jar and shock to the quivering inmate. Then she would depart, and nurse would take the ornaments off the mantelpiece, flick the duster over them, and put them back in the wrong places. It did not seem of the least importance to her whether the blue vase stood in the centre or at the side, but Sylvia had a dozen reasons for wishing to have it in exactly one position and no other. She liked to see its graceful shape and rich colouring reflected in the mirror which hung immediately beneath the gas-bracket; if it were moved to the left it spoiled her view of a tiny water-colour painting which was one of her greatest treasures, while if it stood on the right it ousted the greatest treasure of all-the silver-framed portrait of the dear, darling, most beloved of fathers, who was afar off at the other side of the world, tea-planting in Ceylon.

Genres: Victorian, Historical Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1903

About the author

The author of 33 books, as well as numerous short stories and magazine articles, British author Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey was born Jessie Bell in 1856, in Liverpool. She was the daughter of Scots insurance broker David Bell, and his wife, Elizabeth Morris Barton, and had six siblings. She married cotton broker Henry Mansergh in 1883, and a number of her books were originally published under the name "Jessie Mansergh." After the death of Henry Mansergh in 1894, her work began to be published in magazines.

Vaizey was married again in 1898, to George de Horne Vaizey, a man she met while on a cruise won through a story competition. Her son George Vaizey, born in 1900, was also to become a writer. Contracting typhoid in the early years of the twentieth century, she developed rheumatoid arthritis, and was confined to a wheelchair until her death in 1917.

Reviews

[Mela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naive, old-fashioned (even prejudiced e.g. to Irish). Many times I was bored. Nonetheless, it was perfect to listen to while cleaning, cooking, etc., because it was also sweet and funny, and one doesn't have to be focused 100%.

[It was probably written as a kind of guide for young girls (like most of the author novels) but today I wouldn't advise it as a such. It can be nice and informative for an adult reader interested in 'old-time' books, but not for an average teenager or young adult - in my opinion. They would end up bored or frustrated most likely.]

[Pamela Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume two of this trilogy and perhaps the best of the three, Mrs. G de HV writes volume two from the eyes of a neighbor girl in London who is recovering from a long illness and first admires the family from her window. (One is reminded painfully of the sort of convalescence one might frequently have had at the close of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.) Sister Bridgie befriends the young Sylvia and the family is seen through a different lens. Pixie is absent for the first half of the book but you are glad to see her rejoin the story about halfway through.
I devoted a blog post to the author and three books in the series. It can be found at: http://pams-pictorama.com/2024/03/23/...
Hope you enjoy it and More About Pixie!

[Laurie Elliot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little less about Pixie and more about her siblings, but still refreshing!

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book sees the pairing off and romances of some of my favorite secondary characters, and I really loved seeing their happiness. Bridgie and Jack deserved their happily ever afters, and I was impatient to see that the brother and sister got them with their respective love interests. Pixie's there to lend a hand to the fun, and I was so happy to read that ending. Mrs George de Horne Vaizey always makes you care for the characters and want them to be happy, and that's definitely the case here!

[Janelle]

Dnf. Just not as interesting as the first book. I lacked the will to continue.