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Tales and Novels Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Tales and Novels novel. A total of 626 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Tales And Novels.Volume 1.by Maria Edgeworth.PREFACE.It has been somewhere said by Johns
Tales And Novels.Volume 1.by Maria Edgeworth.PREFACE.It has been somewhere said by Johnson, that merely to invent a story is no small effort of the human understanding. How much more difficult is it to construct stories suited to the early years of youth,
- 626 And now all the salutations were given and received, and all the murmur of congratulations rising, the living tide poured out of the church; and then the noise of carriages, and all drove off to Lady Davenant's; and Lady Davenant had gone through it
- 625 And as his eyes looked that hope, Helen caught it, and yet she doubted, and sighed, but still she had hope. Cecilia had none; she was sitting behind her mother; she looked up at Helen, and shook her head; she had seen more of her mother's danger, she had
- 624 "I have still a daughter," repeated Lady Davenant. "There is," continued she, turning to General Clarendon, "there is a redeeming power in truth.She may yet be more worthy to be your wife than she has ever yet been!""Nev
- 623 "My dear Helen, it is impossible to tell you all the daily, hourly necessities for dissimulation which occurred. Every day, you know, we were to send to inquire for Mr. Churchill; and every day when Clarendon brought me the bulletin, he pitied me, an
- 622 The general's bulletins, however, became at last more favourable: Mr.Churchill was decidedly better; his physician hoped he might soon be p.r.o.nounced out of danger. The general said nothing of Beauclerc, but that he was, he believed, still at Paris
- 621 "_Could_ not, ma'am! As if people could not eat if they pleased.""But if people have no appet.i.te, my dear, I am afraid eating will not do much good.""I am afraid, my dear aunt, you will not do Miss Stanley much good,"s
- 620 CHAPTER XI.According to the general's advice, Mrs. Pennant did not delay her journey, and Helen left London the next day with her and Miss Clarendon.The last bulletin of Mr. Churchill had been that he was still in great danger, and a few scarce legib
- 619 "But there you know he is wrong.""It is like himself," continued Helen; "consistent in protecting me to the last. Oh, to lose such a friend!""Not lost, only mislaid," said Miss Clarendon. "You will find him aga
- 618 The general made no observation and then began some indifferent conversation with Mrs. Pennant, in which Lady Cecilia forced herself to join; she dreaded even Miss Clarendon's silence--that grim repose,--and well she might."D'Aubigny's
- 617 But Miss Clarendon could bear it no longer; starting from under his hand, she exclaimed, "No more, thank you--no more at present, sir: we can call another day--no more:" and added as she hastily left the room, "Better bear the toothache,&qu
- 616 "Poor thing, how its heart beats!" said her husband, pressing her to him as he sat down beside her. Cecilia thought she might venture to speak.--"You know, my dear Clarendon, I never oppose--interfere with--any determination of yours when once it is fi
- 615 CHAPTER VII We left Helen in the back drawing-room, the door bolted, and beginning to read her dreaded task. The paragraphs in the newspapers, we have seen, were sufficiently painful, but when she came to the book itself--to the letters--she was in conste
- 614 "Read it!""Read it! I really can read, though it seems to astonish you.""But it is not published?""One can read in ma.n.u.script.""And did you see the ma.n.u.script?""I had a glimpse. Yes--I know more than Katrine thinks I know.""O tell me, L
- 613 "To be sure;--well?""And Katrine naturally hates every body that is going to be married. If you were to see the state she is in always reading the announcements of Marriages in High Life! Churchill, I do believe, had Miss Stanley's intended match put
- 612 "Not at all, only a little matter of curiosity."Then, from Lady Castlefort, who had hitherto, as if in absence of mind, stood, there was a slight "Won't you sit?" motion."No, no, I can't sit, can't stay," said Lady Cecilia.A look quickly visible,
- 611 "If I could! O if I could!" cried Helen."What can you mean? Pardon me, Miss Stanley, but surely you can tell the plain fact; you can recollect what you have written--at least you can know what you have not written. You have not yet even looked beyond a
- 610 "Are not you coming with us?" cried Lady Cecilia."No, he thanked her, he had rather walk, and," he added--"I shall not see you at breakfast--I am engaged.""Home!" said Lady Cecilia, drawing up the gla.s.s with a jerk.Helen looked out anxiously. Be
- 609 The toilette superbe mademoiselle held to be the easiest of all those which she had named with favour, it may be accomplished by any common hands; but _head_ is requisite to reach the toilette distinguee. The toilette superbe requires only cost--a toilett
- 608 "Then I can tell you, Helen.""You can!""And will. Helen, you could not speak to me till you had consulted--arranged--settled what was to be said--what not to be said--what told--what left untold."Between each half sentence he darted looks at her, de
- 607 There was an end of her playing; however, from her just dread of making a scene, she commanded herself so powerfully, that, except her timidity, nothing was observed by the company, and that timidity was pitied by the good-natured Mrs. Holdernesse, who sa
- 606 thought she, "why cannot I tell him every thing? I, who have no secrets of my own--why should I be forced to keep the secrets of another?" In confusion, scarcely finished, these ideas came across her mind, and she sighed deeply. Beauclerc asked
- 605 "Every day will make it more difficult. The deception will be greater, and less pardonable. If we delay, it will become deliberate falsehood, a sort of conspiracy between us," said Helen."Conspiracy! Oh, Helen, do not use such a shocking wo
- 604 "My dear Miss Stanley, why will not you distinguish? the cases are essentially different. Nine out of ten of the young ladies who marry in these countries do not marry the first object of their fancy, and whenever there is, as there will be, I am sur
- 603 "Supposing the letters to be acknowledged by you, still it would be quite a different affair. But in the first place look at them, they may be forgeries. You will tell me if they are forgeries?"And he placed the packet in her hands. Scarcely loo
- 602 Mademoiselle Felicie said ditto to Helen's own maid, and, moreover, supposed her lady might not have slept well. Just then, one little peremptory knock at the door was heard."Bon Dieu! C'est Monsieur le General!" exclaimed Felicie.It w
- 601 "I declare I do not know," said Cecilia, "that is the plain truth; I cannot recollect--I cannot be certain what there is in them.""But it is not so long ago, Cecilia,--only two years?""That is true, but so many great eve
- 600 She had prescribed rest, and Cecilia had herself desired to be left quite alone. After dinner Lady Davenant went up again to see her, found her not so well--feverish; she would not let Helen go to her--they would talk if they were together, and she though
- 599 The copy of that letter from an ill.u.s.trious personage had been thus obtained. The proofs now brought home to the guilty person, deprived him at once of all future means of injuring Lord Davenant. Completely in their power, he would be ready to ensure s
- 598 Helen blushed, for she was conscious that, wrong or right, namby-pamby, little missy, or not, she had hitherto satisfied herself very comfortably with some such thought."Depend upon it, Helen," resumed Lady Davenant, "that when you are marr
- 597 "Come, come! Cecilia!" said her mother."By 'come, come!' mamma means, don't go any further, Cecilia," said she, turning to Helen. "But now, mamma, I am not clear whether you really think her your friend or your enem
- 596 Helen, who had by this time descended from the steps, stood and looked a little surprised, but said all that was properly civil, "gratified by Lady Bearcroft's good opinion-happy to be of any service,"--&c. &c."Well, then--sit ye down
- 595 There is no better test of the strength of affection than the ready turning of the mind to the little concerns of a friend, when preoccupied with important interests of our own. This was a proof of friends.h.i.+p, which Lady Davenant had lately given to H
- 594 Helen could not accept of it; she thanked Cecilia with all her heart, she felt her kindness--her generosity, but even the hitherto irresistible words, "If you love me," were urged in vain. If she had not been in actual need of money, she might h
- 593 Meanwhile, Helen perceived that, though the general continued to be as attentive and kind to her as usual, yet that there was something more careful and reserved in his manner than formerly, less of spontaneous regard, and cordial confidence. It was not t
- 592 The general did not think that Lady Blanche had arrived; he was not certain, but he knew that the Comtesse de St. Cymon had arrived yesterday."Then," said Cecilia, "it would be but civil to go to see the comtesse.I will go this morning.&quo
- 591 She stopped under the shady tree beneath which they were pa.s.sing, and, leaning against it, she repeated, "As a friend--but, no, no, Mr.Beauclerc--no; I am not the friend you should consult--consult the general, your guardian.""I have cons
- 590 Some days afterwards Lady Katrine took up a book, in which Helen's name was written in Beauclerc's hand. "_Gage d'amitie?_" said her ladys.h.i.+p; and she walked up and down the room, humming the air of an old French song; interru
- 589 "What a relief!--I thought I should never get away!" Then, favoured by a loud bravura of Lady Katrine's, he went on--"That beauty, between you and me, is something of a bore--she--I don't mean the lady who is now screaming--she sh
- 588 Persons without a name Horace treated as barbarians who did not know the value of their gold; and he seemed to think that, if they chanced to possess rings and jewels, they might be plucked from them without remorse, and converted to better use by some lu
- 587 Lady Davenant looked at the letter. She had nothing to do with the matter, she said; but, on second thoughts, exclaimed, "This is Granville Beauclerc's doing, I am clear!"The letter was from Count Polianski, one of the poor banished Poles;
- 586 Beauclerc, after despatching his letter, came up just in time to catch the sound and the sense, and took Horace aside to tell him what he had done. Horace looked vexed, and haughtily observed, that he conceived his place at Erlesmede was better calculated
- 585 "But the very reason I can bear to look at you working, Helen,"continued Lady Cecilia, "is, because you do look up so often--so refres.h.i.+ngly. The professed _Notables_ I detest--those who never raise their eyes from their everlasting wor
- 584 For so young a man as Beauclerc, yet unknown to fame, not only to challenge the combat but to obtain the victory, was intolerable; and the more so, because his young opponent appeared no ways elated or surprised, but seemed satisfied to attribute his succ
- 583 "And I am not gone, that's all. I stayed to write a letter, and am come here to look for--but I cannot find-my--""Your gloves, perhaps, doctor, you are looking for," said Churchill, going forward, and with an air of the greatest r
- 582 "Many thanks, my good lord; and I accept your legacy for the honour--not the value of the gift, which every body must be sensible is nothing,"said Churchill, with a polite bow--"absolutely nothing. I shall never be able to make anything of
- 581 "The first in birth, the first in fame."men distinguished in literature and science, in senatorial eloquence and statesmanlike abilities.But in this party at Clarendon Park there were more of the literary and celebrated than without the presence
- 580 "I hear the loud voice of universal execration," said Beauclerc; "you have all abused me, but whom have I abused? What have I said?""Nothing." replied Lady Cecilia; "that is what we complain of. I could have better borne
- 579 "Very true indeed," said Lady Cecilia; "but, Helen, listen, Granville has really found an ingenious resource."_"'By Ombres Chinoises, suppose; or a gauze curtain, as in Zemire et Azore, the audience might be made to understan
- 578 While he was engaged in this a.n.a.lysis, he was, as his guardian thought, in great moral peril, for not a principle had he left to bless himself with; and, in any emergency, if any temptation should occur, what was to become of him? The general, who was
- 577 Suddenly turning, Beauclerc exclaimed,-- "Borne with me, do you say? 'Tis I that have to bear--and by heavens!"cried he, "more than I can--than I will--bear. Before to-morrow's sun goes down I will have the money.""From
- 576 "And I promised him that I would lend him the money.""Promised! Beauclerc? Without your guardian's knowledge? Pray, how much--""Confound me, if I remember the words. The sense was, what would do the business; what would make
- 575 said Helen, "that the same thing had happened to Marshal Turenne, that he gave the same advice to a little child."Lady Cecilia said she owed Beauclerc an acknowledgment down to her saddle-bow, for the compliment to her general, and a bow at leas
- 574 "How better than the general, who was present, and heard and saw the whole?" said Lady Cecilia."Yes, better, for he saw only effects, and I know causes; and I appeal to Lady Davenant,--from Lady Davenant sarcastic to Lady Davenant philosoph
- 573 "A cheap provision it is for a family in many cases," said Lord Davenant. "Wife, son, and daughter, Satan, are thy own.""Not in this case," cried Beauclerc; "you cannot mean I hope.""I can answer for one, the d
- 572 "Yes," said Lady Davenant, "but rashly generous; an uncommon fault in these days, when young men are in general selfishly prudent or selfishly extravagant.""I hope," said Cecilia,--"I hope Lady Blanche Forrester will not
- 571 "'I hope it is in my power, my dear,' said he; 'I am sure you would not ask--' and there he stopped."I told him it was in his power, and that I would not ask it for any creature living, but--' He put his hand upon my lip
- 570 "I am proud to tell you, that at the time I married we were so poor, that I was obliged to give up many of those luxuries to which I was ent.i.tled, and to which I had been so accustomed, that the doing without them had till then hardly come within m
- 569 The general came up the steps at this moment, rolling a note between his fingers, and looking displeased. Lady Davenant inquired if he could tell her the cause of Mr. Beauclerc's delay. He could not.Lady Cecilia exclaimed--"Very extraordinary! P
- 568 "Love him!" resumed the general; "with all his faults and follies, I love him as if he were my brother."At which words Lady Cecilia, with a scarcely perceptible smile, cast a furtive glance at Helen.The general called for his horses, a
- 567 "It was from my uncle Stanley I heard it," said Helen."Superior man that uncle must have been.""I will leave you now," said Helen."Do, I see we shall like one another in time, Miss Stanley; in time,--I hate sudden friend
- 566 "You mean that Mr. Beauclerc is to marry Miss Clarendon," said Helen, compelled to speak."I only say it has been thought of," replied Lady Cecilia; "that is, as every thing in this way is thought of about every couple not within t
- 565 "Amusing himself, I suppose," replied Lord Davenant."I believe he forgets that I am his guardian," said the general."I am sure he cannot forget that you are his friend," said Lady Cecilia; "for he has the best heart in t
- 564 "That you will, and there is the point that I mean. Ever since I have known you, you have always, as at this moment, coward as you are, been brave enough to speak the truth; and truth I believe to be the only real lasting foundation for friends.h.i.+
- 563 "How barbarous!" said Lady Davenant, "but let it pa.s.s, I am neither glad nor sorry; contempt is more dignified and safer than hatred, my dear."Now to return to Cecilia; soon after, I will not say the D'Aubigny era, but soon afte
- 562 The first morning, however, on seeing her ladys.h.i.+p immersed in papers with a brow of care, deeply intent, Helen paused on the threshold, "I am afraid I interrupt--I am afraid I disturb you.""Come in, Helen, come in," cried Lady Dav
- 561 "But I should have told you more, and what n.o.body knows better than I do," cried Helen, "that Lady Davenant is a great deal more, and a great deal better than a politician. I was too young to judge, you may think, hut young as I was, I co
- 560 Tales And Novels Vol. X.1857 HELEN VOLUME THE FIRST.CHAPTER I."There is Helen in the lime-walk," said Mrs. Collingwood to her husband, as she looked out of the window. The slight figure of a young person in deep mourning appeared between the tre
- 559 "Found!" cried Ormond, stepping hastily up to him--"where is it?""I have it safe here," said the man, opening a sort of pocket-book "here I have kept it safe till your honour came back."Ormond saw and seized upon a
- 558 "Oh! not a morning but I'm there the first thing, asking, and longing for them.""Lie back, Moriarty, in the carriage, and pull your hat over your face,"whispered Ormond: "postilions, drive on to that little cabin, with the tr
- 557 "Mr. James," said the princ.i.p.al clerk, turning to one of the others, "be so good to hand me the letters we have of Mr. Ormond. As we have never seen the gentleman sign his name, sir, it is necessary that we should be more particular in c
- 556 At this instant the noise of some one approaching recalled them both to their senses. They were found in earnest conversation about a party of pleasure that was to be arranged for the next day. Madame de Connal made Ormond promise that he would come the n
- 555 It came upon him just at the right moment. It contrasted with all the dissipation he had seen, and it struck him the more strongly, because it could not possibly have been prepared as a moral lesson to make an impression. He saw the real, natural course o
- 554 "With the utmost pleasure--but that I am engaged to Madame de la Brie's ball.""That's true," cried Madame de Connal, starting up--"I had forgot it--so am I this fortnight--I may as well go to the opera, too, and I can ca
- 553 said M. de Connal, when the company had retired."Delightfully!" said Ormond: "the most agreeable evening I ever pa.s.sed in my life!"Then fearing that he had spoken with too much enthusiasm, and that the husband might observe that his
- 552 And these views--what were they?--Only to win all the young man's fortune at play. A cela pres--excepting this, he was sincerely Ormond's friend, ready to do every thing possible--de faire l'impossible--to oblige and entertain him.Connal en
- 551 CHAPTER XXVII.Ormond had written to M. and Madame de Connal to announce his intentions of spending some time in Paris, and to thank them for the invitation to their house; an invitation which, however, he declined accepting; but he requested M. de Connal
- 550 "Was Lady Annaly ill?""Her ladys.h.i.+p had been but poorly, but was better within the last two days.""And Miss Annaly?""Wonderful better, too, sir; has got up her spirits greatly to-day.""I am very glad to hea
- 549 "What can have become of all the people?" said Ormond: "it is not the workmen's dinner-hour, and they are gone from the work at the lighthouse; and the horses and cars are left without any one with them."He went on a few paces, an
- 548 "Or, if he be a favourite, and have friends, it is a proof that he has extraordinary merit," said Sir Herbert."He is coming to us," said Florence, who had been excessively interested for the child, and whose eyes had followed him where
- 547 When Ormond returned, in obedience to Mrs. M'Crule's summons, he found in the room an unusual a.s.semblage of persons--a party of morning visitors, the unm.u.f.fled contents of the car. As he entered, he bowed as courteously as possible to the w
- 546 It must be a great satisfaction to a young man who has a grain of sense, and who feels that he is falling inevitably and desperately in love, to see that all the lady's family, as well as the object of his pa.s.sion, are exactly the people whom he sh
- 545 "No, please your honour, but Peggy Sheridan that was--Peggy Carroll _that is_," said Peggy, curtsying, with a slight blush, and an arch smile."So, you have married that Moriarty at last.""I have, please your honour--he is a very h
- 544 "In Dublin instead of London?" said Sir Ulick, smiling; "very patriotic, and very kind to me, for I am sure I am your first object; and depend upon it few people, ladies always excepted, will ever like your company better than I do."Th
- 543 At Castle Hermitage every thing had been prepared for his departure; and upon visiting his excellent friend at the vicarage, he found the whole family heartily interested in his welfare, and ready to a.s.sist him, by letters of introduction to the best pe
- 542 She was a very young widow, still in mourning for her husband, a gallant officer, who had fallen the preceding year at a siege in Flanders.Lady Millicent, as Lady Norton said, had not recovered, and she feared never would recover from the shock her health
- 541 "But is he conceited?""Why, I do not know--his manner might appear a little conceited--but in reality he must be wonderfully humble--for he certainly values his horses far above himself--and then he is quite content if his boot-tops are adm
- 540 "_From you!_ Oh! no, sir, you cannot think me so ungrateful. I have not expressed, because I have not words--when I feel much, I never can say any thing; yet believe me, sir, I do feel your kindness, and all the warm fatherly interest you have this n
- 539 Sir Ulick led on to the drawing-room, and presented him to a fas.h.i.+onable-looking lady, neither young nor old, nothing in any respect remarkable."Lady Norton, Harry Ormond--Harry Ormond, my niece, Lady Norton, who will make this house as pleasant
- 538 Sir Ulick O'Shane wrote to Harry that he was at this time _peculiarly_ engaged with affairs of his own. He said, that as to the material point of the money lodged for the commission, he would see the executrix, and do what he could to have that settl
- 537 Father Jos finished his punch, and went to sleep upon it.Ormond, next morning, paid his visit--Dr. Cambray was not at home; but Harry was charmed with the neatness of his house, and with the amiable and happy appearance of his family. He had never before
- 536 "He is always expecting compliments from government," said Corny, "and always getting disappointments. Such throws as you have, Harry--Sixes!again--Well, what luck!--all over with me--It is only a hit at any rate!But what kind of man,"
- 535 "I am not a man of the world, and I thank G.o.d for it," cried Ormond."Thank your G.o.d for what you please," said Connal; "but in disdaining to be a man of the world, you will not, I hope, refuse to let me think you a man of comm
- 534 CHAPTER XV.Vain of showing that he was not in the slightest degree jealous, Connal talked to Ormond in the freest manner imaginable, touching with indifference even on the very subject which Ormond, from feelings of delicacy and honour, had anxiously avoi
- 533 Though he seemed to have talked without any design, except to amuse himself and the company in general, yet in all he had said there had been a prospective view to his object. He chose his means well, and in Mademoiselle he found, at once, a happy dupe an
- 532 "I will--but can't now--I am spent for this day--leave out the bottle of claret for Father Jos, and I'll get to bed--I'll see n.o.body, tell Father Jos--I'm gone to my room."The next morning O'Tara came to breakfast. Eve
- 531 "Off--how?""Out of the world clean! Poor fellow, broke his neck with that horse he could never manage--on Sunday last. I left him for dead Sunday night--found him dead Monday morning--came off straight with the news to you.""Dead!
- 530 But his horse, who did not seem quite satisfied of his ident.i.ty with the man, would not permit him to say more, and off he went--half his hopes dispersed in empty air."I know I wish," said Cornelius O'Shane to himself, as he stood on the
- 529 "Don't hurry, poor Sheelah--no necessity to hurry away from me," said Ormond, who had stood for a few moments like one transfixed. "'Tis for me to go--and I will go as fast and as far as you please, Dora, away from you and for eve
- 528 "Another cup of tea, aunt, if you please.""Then the sooner the better, I say," continued her father; "for when a disagreeable thing is to be done--that is, when a thing that's not quite agreeable to a young lady, such as marr
- 527 CHAPTER X.One day when Harry Ormond was out shooting with Moriarty Carroll, Moriarty abruptly began with, "Why then, 'tis what I am thinking, Master Harry, that King Corny don't know as much of that White Connal as I do.""What do