THE VICISSITUDES OF BESSIE FAIRFAX.
A NOVEL.
BY
HOLME LEE
(MISS HARRIET PARR),
AUTHOR OF "SYLVAN HOLT'S DAUGHTER," "KATHIE BRAND," ETC.
"Not what we could wish, but what we must even put up with."
PHILADELPHIA:
PORTER & COATES.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. HER BIRTH AND PARENTAGE 5 II. THE LAWYER'S LETTER 10 III. THE COMMUNITY OF BEECHHURST 15 IV. A RIDE WITH THE DOCTOR 29 V. GREAT-ASH FORD 37 VI. AGAINST HER INCLINATION 46 VII. HER FATE IS SEALED 59 VIII. BESSIE'S FRIENDS AT BROOK 65 IX. FAREWELL TO THE FOREST 77 X. BESSIE GOES INTO EXILE 80 XI. SCHOOL-DAYS AT CAEN 89 XII. IN COURSE OF TIME 98 XIII. BESSIE LEARNS A FAMILY SECRET 112 XIV. ON BOARD THE "FOAM" 117 XV. A LITTLE CHAPTER BY THE WAY 124 XVI. A LOST OPPORTUNITY 127 XVII. BESSIE'S BRINGING HOME 135 XVIII. THE NEXT MORNING 145 XIX. NEIGHBORS TO ABBOTSMEAD 152 XX. PAST AND PRESENT 160 XXI. A DISCOVERY 170 XXII. PRELIMINARIES 177 XXIII. BESSIE SHOWS CHARACTER 188 XXIV. A QUIET POLICY 194 XXV. A DINNER AT BRENTWOOD 198 XXVI. A MORNING AT BRENTWOOD 209 XXVII. SOME DOUBTS AND FEARS 216 XXVIII. IN MINSTER COURT 223 XXIX. LADY LATIMER IN WOLDSHIRE 228 XXX. MY LADY REVISITS OLD SCENES 235 XXXI. A SUCCESS AND A REPULSE 241 XXXII. A HARD STRUGGLE 254 XXXIII. A VISIT TO CASTLEMOUNT 256 XXXIV. BESSIE'S PEACEMAKING 266 XXXV. ABBOTSMEAD IN SHADOW 273 XXXVI. DIPLOMATIC 282 XXXVII. SUNDAY MORNING AT BEECHHURST 285 XXXVIII. SUNDAY EVENING AT BROOK 294 XXXIX. AT FAIRFIELD 305 XL. ANOTHER RIDE WITH THE DOCTOR 311 XLI. FRIENDS AND ACQUAINTANCES 318 XLII. HOW FRIENDS MAY FALL OUT 323 XLIII. BETWEEN THEMSELVES 328 XLIV. A LONG DULL DAY 336 XLV. THE SQUIRE'S WILL 343 XLVI. TENDER AND TRUE 349 XLVII. GOODNESS PREVAILS 360 XLVIII. CERTAIN OPINIONS 365 XLIX. BESSIE'S LAST RIDE WITH THE DOCTOR 372 L. FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE 381
THE VICISSITUDES OF BESSIE FAIRFAX.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: The Vicissitudes of Bessie Fairfax by Lee
- 2: Fairfax of Abbotsmead in Woldshire
- 3: He proposed to bring her home to Abbotsmead
- 4: Carnegie read the letter to himself
- 5: The doctor pooh poohed her remorse
- 6: Carnegie said she bade fair to be very handsome
- 7: Carnegie spoke to forewarn her against rash declarations
- 8: Beechhurst accepted it in good faith
- 9: She is the great lady of Beechhurst
- 10: Now I remember Elizabeth Fairfax
- 11: That lady was not the Viscountess Poldoody
- 12: And Lady Latimer stood looking on
- 13: I knew Abbotsmead many years ago
- 14: And the spirit of educational reform had reached Beechhurst
- 15: I hate the idea of going away from Beechhurst
- 16: And he was vicar of Littlemire still
- 17: Why did not Moxon patronize open windows
- 18: Miss Wort has just gone in to your wife
- 19: Robb sets his face against drugs yet
- 20: Miss Wort determined to stay for the doctor's exit
- 21: He urged the visit to Beechhurst
- 22: Beyond the ford went a footpath
- 23: You will be at Beechhurst long before we shall
- 24: A blacksmith's forge at one side of the road
- 25: Carnegie lifted his head for a moment
- 26: Carnegie gave Bessie a reproving glance
- 27: Fairfax was not impervious to regret
- 28: Fairfax looked up and pitied her
- 29: I will carry her off to luncheon at Fairfield
- 30: You shall have a Miss Hoyden at Abbotsmead
- 31: Moxon has coached him well I sent him to poor Moxon
- 32: Then she turned to Lady Latimer again
- 33: Wiley was either very forgiving or very pachydermatous
- 34: Wiley with a gaze of severe reprobation
- 35: She looked tired and overdone herself
- 36: Bessie was flattered by this estimate of her pluck
- 37: Cecil Burleigh tall and straight
- 38: Then young Musgrave came back from Wells
- 39: When I am transported to Woldshire
- 40: Answered young Musgrave lightly
- 41: Against a repetition of which young Musgrave offered counsel
- 42: Young Musgrave spoke with vivacity
- 43: It was the narrowest shave between me and Fordyce
- 44: Musgrave came gliding over the grass
- 45: Musgrave followed to comfort her
- 46: Carnegie always cutting short leave takings
- 47: Harry Musgrave continued to look behind
- 48: Above the rickety gateway were two rickety windows
- 49: Bessie was neither timid nor grievous
- 50: Elise Finckel lives in the Place St
- 51: Janey loved to watch the soldiers
- 52: And when the mob came up our street again
- 53: Cried Janey Fricker with a despairing resignation
- 54: Janey would not bow down to her
- 55: Madame Fournier adjourned to Bayeux
- 56: Janey Fricker suffered with her
- 57: But she wrote home to Beechhurst
- 58: But Janey made no sign of remembrance
- 59: And beauty of general effect in the nave and the choir
- 60: Musgrave that it was better to wait here
- 61: Queried Bessie rather mournfully
- 62: Lady Latimer should interfere for you
- 63: Babette summoned them to dejeuner
- 64: Cecil Burleigh's mission to Bayeux
- 65: Does he expect my arrival at Kirkham with pleasure
- 66: Frederick Fairfax came on to Caen
- 67: Cecil Burleigh was to join the yacht
- 68: Cecil Burleigh was constantly busy with pens
- 69: It was an exquisite morning when they anchored opposite Ryde
- 70: But not orthodox as a yachting costume at Ryde
- 71: Cecil Burleigh rose as they entered
- 72: Cecil Burleigh refused to go in
- 73: Brotherton I think he has heard
- 74: Are you going back to Beechhurst
- 75: They are always about Ryde somewhere
- 76: We have come from Beechhurst this morning
- 77: Beechhurst has taken to ladies' meetings and committees
- 78: To ensure not missing the mail boat to Ryde in the morning
- 79: Frederick Fairfax had many friends now at Scarcliffe
- 80: You look as healthy as a milkmaid
- 81: But Macky with another curtsey retired
- 82: And on our own birthdays we might have galette with sugar
- 83: Fairfax thought her manner abrupt
- 84: Betts was a woman of experience and made allowance for her
- 85: Janey was the name of my first friend at school
- 86: Musgrave was and who Harry was
- 87: Did you really do this beautiful darning
- 88: Betts smiled at the effect of her tactics
- 89: Lady Angleby mounted her hobby
- 90: Lady Angleby stared in cold astonishment
- 91: Exclaimed Lady Angleby with delicious unreason
- 92: It is only two miles out of Norminster
- 93: And was gone to Norminster before she came down stairs
- 94: Bessie went on when she had passed them
- 95: Geoffry has married to his taste
- 96: He returned from Norminster jaded and out of spirits
- 97: And Dorothy Fairfax died of that grief
- 98: Fairfax and Bessie walked to church together
- 99: Betts summoned her young lady down stairs
- 100: Miss Jocund took off her glasses
- 101: Burrage with sudden gravity watched what would ensue
- 102: You don't mention him at Abbotsmead
- 103: Cecil Burleigh and his sister Mary
- 104: Thought Bessie sweetly modest and pretty
- 105: So long only a name in Norminster
- 106: And then Miss Burleigh left politics
- 107: Bessie's countenance flashed She was a Miss Hiloe
- 108: He had just succeeded to Abbotsmead
- 109: We may count Norminster lost to the Conservative interest
- 110: Lady Angleby will give a ball if Cecil win and you ask her
- 111: And they travelled to Norminster together
- 112: And in Master Justus bounced lovely
- 113: Stokes ran in to have the first view
- 114: And Bessie said to Miss Burleigh
- 115: Replied Buller with equal directness
- 116: Admiringly watched by the publican
- 117: Chiverton was known to all present
- 118: Chiverton hated his mild tenacity
- 119: Sir Edward Lucas listened hard
- 120: Gifford was brought up in a bad school a vaporing fellow
- 121: Chiverton is rebellious and won't take them away
- 122: Chiverton sought Bessie to bid her good night
- 123: Betts had a shrewd discernment
- 124: Lady Angleby held a quite opposite view
- 125: Jones had confused himself as well as Lady Angleby
- 126: Lady Angleby glanced through her sheaf of correspondence
- 127: Lady Angleby spoke and looked as if she were highly incensed
- 128: Lady Angleby approved her modesty
- 129: Interrupted Lady Angleby sarcastically
- 130: And with one compunctious glance at Bessie
- 131: He reached Brentwood before them
- 132: Betts had fathomed the whole mystery
- 133: Laurence Fairfax could have done so
- 134: Abbotsmead will be quite another place when they come over
- 135: The Jocunds are an old Norminster family
- 136: I wish we had them all at Abbotsmead
- 137: Of Lady Latimer's promised visit to Hartwell
- 138: He was often at Umpleby in the holidays
- 139: Abbotsmead was once a familiar haunt
- 140: Even Lady Angleby was half effaced
- 141: Fairfax was gone to Norminster
- 142: The gum cistus is gone that lovely gum cistus
- 143: The Hartwell carriage came round the sweep
- 144: Fairfax bear his disappointment
- 145: And even Lady Angleby felt for a moment disturbed
- 146: Fairfax heard all his old friend had to urge
- 147: He had a letter from Ryde in his pocket
- 148: Lady Angleby could extract nothing out of this
- 149: Chiverton permitted her to approve of anybody but himself
- 150: Lady Angleby was profoundly irritated
- 151: Cecil Burleigh conveyed himself away by train to London
- 152: Brotherton will be left hanging between earth and heaven
- 153: Chiverton to spend a week at Castlemount
- 154: Chiverton had found it a spacious country mansion
- 155: Chiverton got out with her companion and knocked at the door
- 156: I am never so happy anywhere as at Carisfort
- 157: Harry Musgrave was never impatient he could always wait
- 158: Chiverton said with calm deliberation
- 159: That Abbotsmead was a very big house for a small family
- 160: I have everything at Abbotsmead but that
- 161: And made a journey to Norminster
- 162: Jonquil proved an excellent substitute for grandpapa
- 163: And then he turned to Jonquil and asked for his letters
- 164: Jonquil was greatly troubled about him
- 165: And Bessie was enjoying the pleasures of anticipation
- 166: Jonquil is a long while seeking his master
- 167: Laurence Fairfax ought to be here
- 168: Fairfax to make his granddaughter rich
- 169: Jonquil sent him round to the south terrace
- 170: Cecil Burleigh had not repeated his indecorous visit
- 171: Logger and Dora Meadows made up the quartette
- 172: Bessie halted at the Carnegie pew
- 173: Beechhurst had reconciled itself to its pastor
- 174: And Totty throned between them
- 175: Carnegie suggested interrogatively
- 176: Bessie might walk to Brook with me before tea
- 177: Musgrave were out there on the green slope under the beeches
- 178: Bessie Fairfax was looking at him
- 179: Bessie spoke with pretty eagerness
- 180: We take the Times at Abbotsmead
- 181: Bessie has been administering a lecture
- 182: Stamford has done excellent work for thirty years
- 183: Thinking of her all the way dear little Bessie
- 184: Danberry was staying with me at the time
- 185: Lady Latimer kept Dora at her elbow
- 186: Turned away with a scorny face
- 187: Musgrave great power of countenance
- 188: Cecil Burleigh asked no more questions
- 189: Wiley not to play so on the feelings
- 190: Yet Beechhurst might have a worse pastor than poor Wiley
- 191: And sent Robb over to make sure
- 192: Carnegie nodded her acquiescence
- 193: Jimpson is the collector this year Jimpson
- 194: A Woldshire man or South country
- 195: And Lady Latimer was not his friend
- 196: Lady Latimer glanced in the girl's brave
- 197: Why not say humpbacked at once
- 198: Logger remarked in it is accounted for
- 199: Cecil Burleigh in a vaguely confidential manner
- 200: Miss Fairfax will please herself
- 201: Good little philosophical Bessie
- 202: Bessie was gazing straight away into heaven
- 203: Lady Latimer asked no questions
- 204: And of the hospitality of Lady Latimer
- 205: Her nephew spent Christmas at Norminster
- 206: He had given permission for his son to come to Abbotsmead
- 207: Grandpapa is not difficult it is only his way
- 208: Cecil Burleigh to the position he occupied
- 209: Miss Burleigh looked up surprised
- 210: Abbotsmead under its new squire
- 211: Harry Musgrave and Miss Fairfax
- 212: I always did love Harry Musgrave
- 213: Bessie drew quite near to him unheard
- 214: Bessie felt very sorry for her
- 215: Bessie said with gentle deprecation
- 216: Musgrave returning from Hampton
- 217: Harry Musgrave writes a plain hand
- 218: Logger to recommend a publisher
- 219: Lady Latimer said it was pretty
- 220: And a Ryde wherry was a capital craft for sailing
- 221: What is that you are saying about Ryde
- 222: Bologna will be better than Arcachon for the winter
- 223: But the wedding will be at Abbotsmead
- 224: Harry Musgrave no condescension in it
- 225: Lady Latimer will soon forget her prejudice against the tea
- 226: In the village they met Miss Buff
- 227: Janey expected hasty questions
- 228: Carnegie to her succor in the fray
- 229: Demanded Lady Latimer impetuously
- 230: Wallop sat up with us last night she's very good
- 231: Moxon married the young couple
- 232: Miss Foster was married to a brave fermier
- 233: Bessie would not allow that the English are maussade
- 234: Cecil Burleigh and his wife came by
- 235: For this was the little cemetery of Bellagio
- 236: Uniform with the Waverley Novels
- 237: A new edition from entirely new stereotype plates
- 238: With 487 finely engraved illustrations
- 239: And the two great campaigns of Gettysburg and Vicksburg
- 240: With twenty four portraits on steel
- 241: The fireside encyclopaedia of poetry
- 242: And with a Biographical Sketch of Lord Derby
- 243: And a Life of Flavius Josephus
- 244: By CHARLOTTE BRONTE Currer Bell
- 245: Forming the complete works of Jane Austen
