A SIMPLE STORY
BY
MRS. INCHBALD
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
G. L. STRACHEY
LONDON HENRY FROWDE 1908
OXFORD: HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PREFACE
VOLUME I I-CHAPTER I 5 I-CHAPTER II 8 I-CHAPTER III 13 I-CHAPTER IV 14 I-CHAPTER V 17 I-CHAPTER VI 22 I-CHAPTER VII 25 I-CHAPTER VIII 31 I-CHAPTER IX 34 I-CHAPTER X 38 I-CHAPTER XI 42 I-CHAPTER XII 47 I-CHAPTER XIII 53 I-CHAPTER XIV 57 I-CHAPTER XV 63 I-CHAPTER XVI 69 I-CHAPTER XVII 78
VOLUME II II-CHAPTER I 85 II-CHAPTER II 90 II-CHAPTER III 94 II-CHAPTER IV 102 II-CHAPTER V 112 II-CHAPTER VI 117 II-CHAPTER VII 121 II-CHAPTER VIII 131 II-CHAPTER IX 138 II-CHAPTER X 146 II-CHAPTER XI 153 II-CHAPTER XII 164
VOLUME III III-CHAPTER I 173 III-CHAPTER II 177 III-CHAPTER III 179 III-CHAPTER IV 187 III-CHAPTER V 188 III-CHAPTER VI 194 III-CHAPTER VII 201 III-CHAPTER VIII 204 III-CHAPTER IX 205 III-CHAPTER X 214 III-CHAPTER XI 218 III-CHAPTER XII 227 III-CHAPTER XIII 233 III-CHAPTER XIV 244
VOLUME IV IV-CHAPTER I 247 IV-CHAPTER II 250 IV-CHAPTER III 255 IV-CHAPTER IV 261 IV-CHAPTER V 266 IV-CHAPTER VI 270 IV-CHAPTER VII 277 IV-CHAPTER VIII 283 IV-CHAPTER IX 285 IV-CHAPTER X 288 IV-CHAPTER XI 291 IV-CHAPTER XII 293
INTRODUCTION
_A Simple Story_ is one of those books which, for some reason or other, have failed to come down to us, as they deserved, along the current of time, but have drifted into a literary backwater where only the professional critic or the curious discoverer can find them out. "The iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy;" and nowhere more blindly than in the republic of letters. If we were to inquire how it has happened that the true value of Mrs. Inchbald's achievement has passed out of general recognition, perhaps the answer to our question would be found to lie in the extreme difficulty with which the mass of readers detect and appreciate mere quality in literature. Their judgment is swayed by a hundred side-considerations which have nothing to do with art, but happen easily to impress the imagination, or to fit in with the fashion of the hour. The reputation of Mrs. Inchbald's contemporary, Fanny Burney, is a case in point. Every one has heard of Fanny Burney's novels, and _Evelina_ is still widely read. Yet it is impossible to doubt that, so far as quality alone is concerned, _Evelina_ deserves to be ranked considerably below _A Simple Story._ But its writer was the familiar friend of the greatest spirits of her age; she was the author of one of the best of diaries; and her work was immediately and immensely popular. Thus it has happened that the name of Fanny Burney has maintained its place upon the roll of English novelists, while that of Mrs. Inchbald is forgotten.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Simple Story by Mrs. Inchbald
- 2: Inchbald possesses another quality
- 3: Inchbald has taken this character
- 4: Held a moderate farm in Standingfield
- 5: As the Siddonses were by the citizens of Liverpool
- 6: A second edition was printed immediately
- 7: Gisborne very happy but for ill health
- 8: That Fortune having chased away Necessity
- 9: Except the heart of Dorriforth
- 10: Dorriforth is the only person I know
- 11: When the will of her father was made known to Miss Milner
- 12: But if her mind is defective exclaimed Dorriforth
- 13: Hillgrave had been seated a few minutes
- 14: Where Dorriforth and Miss Woodley were expecting her
- 15: Wise on the part of Dorriforth
- 16: While Dorriforth has been sighing with apprehension
- 17: And her zealous advocate with Dorriforth
- 18: Dorriforth from that indulgence
- 19: Subsisted between Miss Milner and her guardian
- 20: But a sudden frown from Dorriforth having put an end to it
- 21: Dorriforth he conceived a greater dislike than ever
- 22: Miss Milner rising with alacrity
- 23: This alarmed poor Miss Woodley
- 24: Dorriforth then laid the book out of his hand
- 25: Dorriforth the child is his nephew
- 26: Which Miss Woodley was impatient her guardian should know
- 27: Sandford knew the hearts of women
- 28: Dorriforth thought he did know
- 29: I shall not easily prevail upon Miss Milner to leave town
- 30: Sandford know of this conflict
- 31: Dorriforth was affected at the description
- 32: Miss Woodley just then entered her apartment
- 33: Do you expect Lord Frederick in the country
- 34: At other times he came to see Dorriforth alone
- 35: Where Dorriforth soon after came
- 36: Sandford sullenly interrupted him
- 37: Miss Woodley hesitated he continued
- 38: To which Dorriforth alone appeared indifferent
- 39: Dorriforth returned to his own apartment
- 40: And when Dorriforth was again alone
- 41: But Dorriforth something the worse
- 42: Miss Milner rose from her seat
- 43: When Miss Milner called Miss Woodley back
- 44: Miss Woodley pressed her closely in her arms
- 45: In the strict but not enlarged education of Miss Woodley
- 46: Dorriforth and Lord Frederick should not now be friends
- 47: Dorriforth immediately came in
- 48: When Dorriforth made his appearance the next day
- 49: While the ladies remained in the same room with Dorriforth
- 50: In order to acquaint Lord Frederick
- 51: Miss Fenton may marry from obedience
- 52: But Dorriforth called to him to stay
- 53: When Dorriforth was alone with Sandford
- 54: But in the general tenor of his behaviour
- 55: The letter of invitation arrives from Lady Luneham at Bath
- 56: She made the slightest mention of Dorriforth
- 57: Lady Luneham sent them immediate word of this
- 58: And who is the present Lord Elmwood
- 59: As she sat talking to Lady Luneham on various subjects
- 60: As soon as you can with propriety leave Lady Luneham
- 61: She complained to Miss Woodley
- 62: Sandford esteemed her less and less every day
- 63: But to the mind of Lord Elmwood
- 64: And though Miss Woodley had beheld them too
- 65: You might think them equally unpardonable
- 66: Said Miss Woodley with a smile
- 67: Sandford was left alone with Lord Elmwood
- 68: And satisfy the conscience of Miss Woodley
- 69: Lord Elmwood asked Miss Milner If she meant to ride
- 70: Though repeatedly urged by Miss Woodley
- 71: Neither Miss Milner nor Miss Woodley answered
- 72: Sandford must finish your dispute in the morning
- 73: Of the many restless nights that Miss Milner passed
- 74: Miss Woodley sighed but she did not speak
- 75: Miss Milner's taste is not a depraved one
- 76: Miss Woodley was too little versed in the subject
- 77: At which Miss Woodley rejoiced
- 78: Miss Milner played one card for another
- 79: That Miss Fenton had been supplanted
- 80: Lord Elmwood liked him sincerely
- 81: Frequently kept Lord Elmwood from his house part of the day
- 82: As soon as Sandford perceived his friend's uneasiness
- 83: Lord Elmwood having come to this resolution
- 84: Sandford fixed his inquisitive eyes upon Lord Elmwood
- 85: Before Miss Milner returned to the apartment
- 86: Lord Elmwood and Sandford entered
- 87: Three were sent to Miss Milner
- 88: Though Miss Woodley had spoken in a whisper
- 89: Miss Woodley admired this dress
- 90: Lord Elmwood was all impatience
- 91: Said Lord Elmwood to the woman
- 92: And left Sandford to question them
- 93: Caused Lord Elmwood to start from his chair
- 94: And she and Miss Woodley went in
- 95: Lord Elmwood then turned to Sandford
- 96: But Miss Milner peremptorily forbade this
- 97: Said Lord Elmwood to Miss Milner
- 98: But Miss Woodley interrupted her
- 99: Miss Woodley was going to reply
- 100: I do not attempt to disavow or extenuate them
- 101: They will then discover to Lord Elmwood
- 102: That whoever Lord Elmwood marries
- 103: That the inflexible mind of Lord Elmwood
- 104: Sandford was not going abroad with Lord Elmwood
- 105: Horton were both standing as well as Lord Elmwood
- 106: Instead of following Lord Elmwood
- 107: Miss Woodley went to the breakfast room
- 108: Miss Woodley spoke this in a negligent manner
- 109: Lord Elmwood gazed at him with wonder
- 110: Miss Milner with all the fears
- 111: Lady Elmwood on her dying day has no worldly thoughts
- 112: That the degrees of misconduct by which Lady Elmwood fell
- 113: After the return of Lord Elmwood
- 114: Compassion changed his language
- 115: Without the benevolence of Lord Elmwood
- 116: The right honourable Countess Elmwood
- 117: The slightest mention of Lady Elmwood
- 118: Lord Elmwood took it instantly
- 119: After Lord Elmwood had retired into his chamber
- 120: While Lord Elmwood read this letter
- 121: And holding it towards Sandford
- 122: Sandford thanked Giffard for his friendly information
- 123: Possessed poor Matilda and Miss Woodley so powerfully
- 124: They all departed for Elmwood Castle Matilda
- 125: Matilda's time never appeared tedious at Elmwood Castle
- 126: Where she had so often beheld Lady Elmwood
- 127: Miss Woodley asked the servant
- 128: When Miss Woodley and she were alone
- 129: But he had not even mentioned Miss Woodley
- 130: Lord Elmwood in his turn became
- 131: Rushbrook were gone out shooting together
- 132: Rushbrook than she had done before
- 133: Rushbrook then rang for his servant
- 134: A note came from Rushbrook to Miss Woodley
- 135: Rushbrook walked towards the window
- 136: Rushbrook was officiously polite
- 137: Lord Elmwood had many convivial days at Elmwood House
- 138: When he had quitted the room where Miss Woodley was
- 139: The story of Lady Elmwood was known to Lord Margrave
- 140: Your visits might be displeasing to Lord Elmwood
- 141: Unshaken temper of Lord Elmwood
- 142: Rushbrook shuddered at the thought
- 143: Rushbrook suffered so poignant an uncertainty
- 144: During the illness of Rushbrook
- 145: By a fortunate meeting with Miss Woodley
- 146: Rushbrook eat scarce any thing
- 147: Sandford put down the book hastily
- 148: The next day Rushbrook dined alone
- 149: And as Rushbrook after replying
- 150: Lord Elmwood observed this conduct
- 151: Sandford was sitting with her and Miss Woodley
- 152: Rushbrook was in the library at the same time
- 153: Lord Elmwood was immediately before her
- 154: Received early the next morning by Miss Woodley
- 155: In which Giffard said he knew His Lordship loved her
- 156: You must not try said Sandford
- 157: Rushbrook did not observe any alteration
- 158: When the servant had left Rushbrook alone
- 159: Lord Elmwood had now allowed Rushbrook a long vacation
- 160: I wished to have your approbation
- 161: The Earl took his eyes from Rushbrook
- 162: Rushbrook now trembled more than ever
- 163: Lord Elmwood made no answer and Rushbrook
- 164: Rushbrook saw by the solemnity of his countenance
- 165: And am still ready to hazard more
- 166: When Rushbrook called for wine
- 167: Miss Woodley quitted the room that instant
- 168: I wish Rushbrook had been here
- 169: Sandford returned to Elmwood House
- 170: This interruption was torture to Rushbrook
- 171: And Miss Woodley entered to him
- 172: She was in the room with Miss Woodley and Mr
- 173: That Lord Elmwood struggles with
- 174: Lord Elmwood had called Sandford apart
- 175: Asked Sandford though he guessed
- 176: The sincerity with which Lord Elmwood had loved
- 177: Stopped Lord Elmwood instantly
- 178: Set off for the habitation of poor Matilda
- 179: While Lord Elmwood beheld the offence with indifference
- 180: Rushbrook and Sandford started
- 181: Rushbrook in vain entreated Lord Elmwood
- 182: Matilda hid her eyes from the sight of her
- 183: On whom Lord Elmwood had not even cast a look
- 184: Than the commands of Lord Elmwood
- 185: To divide with Lord Elmwood that tender bond
- 186: Rushbrook has offended me beyond forgiveness
- 187: Could Lord Elmwood know for what he sent me