Linnets & Valerians: Week 2

Beacon Hill, Education, Greece and some trivia

Linnets & Valerians in our home education reading basket a couple years ago.

Betsy hoisted herself onto a chair in front of Lady Alicia and sat with her legs dangling…

"My Uncle Ambrose," she said,"is the very nicest kind of man. He loves me."

A ripple of something that might have been amusement, or perhaps memory, passed over Lady Alicia's face and she asked, "He has informed you of the fact?"

Betsy shook her flaming head. "But I know," she said.

"One does," agreed Lady Alicia. "But if you return his affection you should inform him of the fact. Not necessarily in words."

"I've told him,” said Betsy, "like this." And she slipped off her chair, went to Lady Alicia and leaned close to her, fluttering her long eyelashes against the old lady's cheek. "That's a butterfly kiss," she said. "I do it to Uncle Ambrose, Nan and Father. And you. Nobody else.”

🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, Linnets & Valerians

We entered into the landscapes this week: the woods and hills of Devon’s Dartmoor, the gardens at the manor, and also of the hearts of our characters.

Lady Alicia is an interesting character at the manor, and as we find out more about her life story she becomes very surprising. And what does Nan’s parlor and her book have to do with all of these mysteries?

Today we will take a look at the hill that inspired so many of Goudge’s works near Marldon. We will also look at education with Goudge, hear a bit about Greece, learn some trivia and see the illustrations for chapters 4-7!

View from Beacon Hill, Google maps