![Light Novel -?=$public_r['add_site_name']?>](/static/content/img/logo.png){kind=logo}
Queechy Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Queechy novel. A total of 185 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Queechy.Volume I.by Elizabeth Wetherell.CHAPTER I.A single cloud on a sunny day, When al
Queechy.Volume I.by Elizabeth Wetherell.CHAPTER I.A single cloud on a sunny day, When all the rest of heaven is clear, A frown upon the atmosphere, That hath no business to appear, When skies are blue and earth is gay.
BYRON."Come, dear grandpa! ? the ol
- 1 Queechy.Volume I.by Elizabeth Wetherell.CHAPTER I.A single cloud on a sunny day, When all the rest of heaven is clear, A frown upon the atmosphere, That hath no business to appear, When skies are blue and earth is gay. BYRON."Come, dear grandpa! ? the ol
- 2 "So I told him, Mr. Ringgan. I put it to him. Says I, 'Mr.McGowan, it's a cruel hard business; there ain't a man in town that wouldn't leave Mr. Ringgan the shelter of his own roof as long as he wants any, and think it a pleasure, if the rent was any
- 3 CHAPTER II.Have you seen but a bright lily grow, Before rude hands have touched it?Ha' you mark'd but the fall o' the snow, Before the soil hath s.m.u.tch'd it?BEN JONSON.Where a ray of light can enter the future, a child's hope can find a way ? a wa
- 4 "She? yes, bless her! she is always well. Where is she? Fairy, where are you? Cynthy, just call Elfleda here.""She's just in the thick of the m.u.f.fins, Mr. Ringgan.""Let the m.u.f.fins burn! Call her."Miss Cynthia accordingly opened a little way
- 5 "She says they are going to stay in Paris yet a good while longer.""Hum!" ? said Mr. Ringgan. "Well ? that aint the wisest thing I should like to hear of her doing.""Oh, but it's because uncle Rossitur likes to stay there, I suppose, isn't it, gr
- 6 _I_ don't believe there's the like of him left in it.""He had been a major a good while, hadn't be, grandpa?""Yes. It was just after he was made captain that he went to Albany, and there he saw your mother. She and her sister, your aunt Lucy, were
- 7 I know each lane, and every alley green, Dingle or bushy dell of this wild wood, And every bosky bourne from side to side; My daily walks and ancient neighbourhood.MILTON.Fleda and her grandfather had but just risen from a tolerably early breakfast the ne
- 8 "How do you know?" said Mr. Carleton, turning to her. "By your wit as a fairy?""I know by the colour," said Fleda, modestly; "and by the shape too.""Fairy," said Mr. Rossitur, "if you have any of the stuff about you, I wish you would knock this
- 9 "How many do you count upon securing to-day?" said Mr.Carleton, gravely."I don't know," said Fleda, with a business face, ? "there are a good many trees, and fine large ones, and I don't believe anybody has found them out ? they are so far out of t
- 10 'Amontillado' was Hebrew to Fleda, but 'goblet' was intelligible."I am sorry!" she said; "I don't know where there is any spring up here, but we shall come to one going down the mountain.""Do you know where all the springs are?""No, not all, I
- 11 They descended the mountain now with a hasty step, for the day was wearing well on. At the spot where he had stood so long when they went up, Mr. Carleton paused again for a minute. In mountain scenery every hour makes a change. The sun was lower now, the
- 12 CHAPTER IV.A mind that in a calm angelic mood Of happy wisdom, meditating good, Beholds, of all from her high powers required, Much done, and much designed, and more desired. ?WORDSWORTH."I've had such a delicious day, dear grandpa," said little Fleda,
- 13 "I don't know," said Fleda. "I hope not. I think it is very ugly.""Do you? Oh! I admire it. It makes a man look so spry!"A few hundred yards from Mr. Ringgan's gate the road began to wind up a very long heavy hill. Just at the hill's foot, it cro
- 14 "Were you not together?" said Mrs. Carleton. - "Where were you, Guy?""Following the sport another way, Ma'am; I had very good success, too.""What's the total?" said Mr. Evelyn. "How much game did you bag?""Really, Sir, I didn't count. I can
- 15 "Well, I hope she will go with us, and we shall have a chance of seeing her," said Mrs. Carleton."If she were only a few years older, it is my belief you would see enough of her, Ma'am," said young Rossitur.The haughty coldness of Mr. Carleton's loo
- 16 "Uneducated!" exclaimed Mrs. Carleton."Don't mistake me, mother, ? I do not mean that it shows any want of reading or writing, but it does indicate an untrained character ? a mind unprepared for the exigencies of life.""She met those exigencies indi
- 17 "And was that the general spirit of the ranks?""Not altogether," replied the old gentleman, pa.s.sing his hand several times abstractedly over his white hair, a favourite gesture with him, ? "not exactly that ? there was a good deal of mixture of dif
- 18 "Why don't you try the army?" said Mr. Ringgan, with a look of interest."There is not a cause worth fighting for," said the young man, his brow changing again. "It is only to add weight to the oppressor's hand, or throw away life in the vain endeav
- 19 But Mr. Carleton did not think his efforts thrown away. He understood and admired his fine old host and hostess; and with all their ignorance of conventionalities and absence of what is called _polish_ of manner, he could enjoy the sterling sense, the goo
- 20 "Are you not well, dear grandpa?" said the little girl.Nothing made of flesh and blood ever spoke words of more spirit-like sweetness, ? not the beauty of a fine organ, but such as the sweetness of angel-speech might be; a whisper of love and tenderness
- 21 "But tell me," said Fleda, anxiously."I don't know as there's anything the matter with him," said Cynthy. "Nothing much, I suppose. What makes you think anything is the matter?""Because I heard you telling Watkins to go for aunt Miriam."Fleda co
- 22 "Cynthy! ? Mis' Plumfield wants to know if that is Mr.Carleton?""Yes. ""Well, she'd like to see him. Ask him to walk into the front room, she says."Cynthy upon this showed the way, and Mr. Carleton walked into the same room where a very few days b
- 23 "I would _rather_ have it up-stairs," said Fleda, gently, "but it's no matter.""We will have it up-stairs," said Mrs. Carleton. "We will be a nice little party up there by ourselves. You shall not come down till you like.""You are hardly able to
- 24 There was no answer, and the absolute repose of all the lines of the young gentleman's face bordered too nearly on contempt to encourage the lady to pursue her jest any further.The next day Fleda was well enough to bear moving. Mr.Carleton had her carefu
- 25 SYR CAULINE.That evening, the last of their stay at Montepoole, Fleda was thought well enough to take her tea in company. So Mr.Carleton carried her down, though she could have walked, and placed her on the sofa in the parlour.Whatever disposition the you
- 26 "Because I am persuaded of the contrary.""I don't believe your horse will like it," said Thorn."My horse is always of my mind, Sir; or if he be not, I generally succeed in convincing him.""But there is somebody else that deserves to be consulted,
- 27 She had left her grandfather's room for the last. Mr. Carleton did not follow her in there, guessing that she would rather be alone. But she did not come back, and he was forced to go to fetch her.The chill desolateness of that room had been too much for
- 28 "What?" said Mr. Carleton, inexpressibly curious to get at the workings of the child's mind, which was not easy, for Fleda was never very forward to talk of herself; ? "what were you thinking? I want to know how you could get such a thing into your he
- 29 "The birds without barn Or storehouse are fed; From them let us learn To trust for our bread.His saints what is fitting Shall ne'er be denied, So long as 'tis written, 'The Lord will provide.'"His call we obey, Like Abraham of old, Not knowing our w
- 30 "Died for us! ? And what end was that to serve, Elfie?" said he, partly willing to hear the full statement of the matter, and partly willing to see how far her intelligence could give it."Because we are sinners," said Fleda, "and G.o.d has said that
- 31 "Elfie, how do you know there is a G.o.d? what reason have you for thinking so, out of the Bible?"It was a strange look little Fleda gave him. He felt it at the time, and he never forgot it. Such a look of reproach, sorrow, and _pity_, he afterwards tho
- 32 "Stop, Sir!" said Thorn, as the young Englishman was turning away, adding with an oath ?"I wont bear this! You shall answer this to me, Sir!""Easily," said the other."And me, too," said Rossitur. "You have an account to settle with me, Carleton.
- 33 "It was _not_ right," said he, after a minute, "and I very seldom use such an expression, but you know one cannot always be on one's guard, Elfie.""But," said Fleda, with gentle persistence, "one can always do what is right.""The deuce one can!
- 34 "Neither new nor old. I mean, simply, that I have changed my mind.""But this is very extraordinary!" said Rossitur. "What reason do you give?""I give none, Sir.""In that case," said Captain Beebee, "perhaps Mr. Carleton will not object to expla
- 35 Captain Beebee touched his cap, and went back to Mr. Thorn, to whom he reported that the young Englishman was thoroughly impracticable, and that there was nothing to be gained by dealing with him; and the vexed conclusion of Thorn's own mind, in the end,
- 36 "Further than you can see, Elfie.""Further than I can see! ? It must be a very large farm.""This is not a farm where we are now," said he; "did you mean that? This is the park; we are almost at the edge of it on this side.""What is the difference
- 37 "Yes, very much.""Father and mother will take us delightful walks in the Tuileries ? the gardens, you know ? and the Champs Elysees, and Versailles, and the Boulevards, and ever so many places, and it will be a great deal pleasanter now you are here. D
- 38 "Was there one more loved than the rest?""Yes ? the Bible calls him 'the disciple whom Jesus loved.'That was John.""Why was he preferred above the others?""I don't know. I suppose he was more gentle and good than the others, and loved Jesus more
- 39 He reached his room, put the flower in a gla.s.s on the table, and walked up and down before it. It had come to a struggle between the sense of what was and the pa.s.sionate wish for what might have been."It is late, Sir," said his servant, opening the
- 40 "I shall often remember you, dear Elfie," he said; "I shall keep your rose always, and take it with me wherever I go. You must not make it too hard for me to quit Paris ? you are glad to have me go on such an errand, are you not?"She presently command
- 41 "Very well ? why shouldn't I? ? provided he steals no love from anybody else," said Fleda, still caressing him."What a noise somebody is making down stairs!" said Hugh. " I don't think I should ever want to go to large parties, Fleda; do you?""I
- 42 "No, Sir. Hugh and I have our lessons at home.""Teaching each other, I suppose?""O no, Sir," said Fleda, laughing; "Mme. Lascelles and Mr.Schweppenhesser, and Signor Barytone come to teach us, besides our music masters.""Do you ever talk German w
- 43 "Those on the right show when I finished the volume.""Well, I wonder what you were cut out for!" said the doctor."A Quaker! you aren't a Quaker, are you?""No, Sir," said Fleda, laughing."You look like it," said he. " 'Feb. 24. Five Penny Maga
- 44 The doctor looked up comically at his niece and her husband, who were both sitting or standing close by." 'Sep. 10. Paolo e Virginia' ? in what language?""Italian, Sir; I was just beginning, and I haven't finished it yet."" 'Sep. 16. Milner's Ch
- 45 "Mamma! What do you mean?""Your father has failed.""Failed! ? But, Mamma, I thought he wasn't in business?""So I thought," said Mrs. Rossitur; "I didn't know people could fail that were not in business; but it seems they can.He was a partner in
- 46 Fleda sat in the corner with the heartache, to see her uncle's gloomy tramp up and down the rich apartment, and her aunt Lucy's gaze at him."Humph! ? well! ? So!" said the Doctor, at last, "You've all gone overboard with a smash, I understand?"The
- 47 "No wild beasts, my dear, if that is your meaning ? and I do not suppose there are even many snakes left by this time.""No, but, dear uncle, I mean, is it in all unsettled state?""No, my dear, not at all ? perfectly quiet.""Ah! but do not play with
- 48 Home he went. The rest drew together particularly near, round the fire ? Hugh at his father's shoulder, and Fleda kneeling on the rug, between her uncle and aunt, with a hand on each; and there was not one of them whose gloom was not lightened by her bri
- 49 It was a weary party that gathered round the supper-table that night ? weary, it seemed, as much in mind as in body; and the meal exerted its cheering influence over only two of them; Mr.and Mrs. Rossitur sipped their cups of tea abstractedly."I don't b
- 50 "Oh, part of the time in New York, and part of the time in Paris, and some other places.""Well, you ha'n't seen anything better than Queechy, or Queechy bread and b.u.t.ter, have you?""No, indeed!""Come, you shall give me another kiss for that,"
- 51 "Not quite so little, but my own darling. The world hasn't spoiled thee yet.""I hope not, aunt Miriam.""You have remembered your mother's prayer, Fleda?""Always!"How tenderly aunt Miriam's hand was pa.s.sed over the bowed head ? how fondly she
- 52 It was rather a longish walk to uncle Joshua's, and hardly a word spoken on either side.The old gentleman was "to hum;" and while Fleda went back into some remote part of the house to see "aunt Syra," Mr. Rossitur set forth his errand."Well, and so
- 53 But the summer-time came to an end.It was a November morning, and Fleda had been doing some of the last jobs in her flower-beds. She was coming in with spirits as bright as her cheeks, when her aunt's att.i.tude and look, more than usually spiritless, su
- 54 "Where? oh, don't you remember the days of Mrs. Renney? I have seen Emile make them. And by dint of trying to teach Mary this summer, I have taught myself. There is no knowing, you see, what a person may come to.""I wonder what father would say, if he
- 55 "What's the matter?""Oh ? pride ? injured pride of station! The wrong of not coming to our table and putting her knife into our b.u.t.ter.""And living in such a place!" said Hugh."You don't know what a place. They are rniserably poor, I am sure;
- 56 Yielding to the apparent impossibility of getting anything out of Dr. Quackenboss, except civility, and to the real difficulty of disappointing such very earnest good will, Fleda and Hugh did what older persons would not have done ? alighted and walked up
- 57 "An invitation to a party, and a slight possibility that at the party I may find what I want.""A party," said Hugh. Fleda laughed and explained."And do you intend to go?""Not I ? at least I think not. But, Hugh, don't say anything about all this t
- 58 "She lives like one, don't she?" said aunt Syra.Which imputation Fleda also refuted to the best of her power."Well, don't she have dinner in the middle of the afternoon?"pursued aunt Syra.Fleda was obliged to admit that. "And she can't eat without
- 59 "Ay ? I dare say he is," Earl responded, in precisely the same tone. "I was down to his house one day last summer to see him.He wa'n't to hum, though.""It would be strange if harm come to a man with such a guardian angel in the house as that man ha
- 60 "No," said he, quietly: "I've got my farm boots on. I guess I wont see anybody but you."But Fleda would not suffer that; and finding she could not move him, she brought her aunt out into the kitchen. Mrs.Rossitur's manner of speaking, and thanking h
- 61 "Well, I don't mind the things I had ought to most," said Barby, in a subdued voice ? "never! ? 'cept mother ? I aint very apt to forget her."Mrs. Plumfield saw a tell-tale glittering beneath the drooping eyelid. She added no more but a sympathetic
- 62 "Why, a leach-tub, for to leach ashes in. That's easy enough.I'll fix it, afore we're any on us much older. If Mr. Rossitur 'll keep me in good hard wood, I sha'n't cost him hardly anything for potash.""I'll see about it," said Fleda; "and I w
- 63 Rossitur, drily, "for the thing is done. I have engaged him."Not another word was spoken.Mr. Rossitur went out after breakfast, and Mrs. Rossitur busied herself with the breakfast cups and a tub of hot water ? a work she never would let Fleda share with
- 64 "Yes ? uncle Rolf has let the farm ? only think of it! ? he has let the farm to that Didenhover.""Didenhover!""For two years.""Did you tell him what you knew about him?""Yes, but it was too late ? the mischief was done." Aunt Miriam went on skim
- 65 "Well, I guess I'll stand that," said aunt Miriam, smiling ?"you wouldn't mind carrying this under your cloak, would you?""I have no doubt I shall go home lighter with it than without it, Ma'am, ? thank you, dear aunty! ?dear aunt Miriam!"There w
- 66 "Yes it was, because, you know, we have only fried pork for dinner to-day; and while we have the milk and eggs, it doesn't cost much ? the sugar is almost nothing. He will like it better, and so will Hugh. As for you," said Fleda, gently touching her f
- 67 "Ah, but, fair, you know, I mean ? we speak ? in that sense ?Mrs. Dougla.s.s, here is by far the most elegant offering that your hands will have the honour of receiving this day.""I hope so," said Mrs. Dougla.s.s, "or there wont be much to eat for th
- 68 and dear little creature, as I am sure you have been ever since! And how is your dear aunt Lucy?"Fleda answered that she was well."I used to love her very much ? that was before I knew you ?before she went abroad. We have just got home ? this spring; an
- 69 "You look just as you used to do," Mrs. Evelyn went on, earnestly."Do I?" said Fleda, privately thinking that the lady must have good eyes for features of resemblance."Except that you have more colour in your cheeks and more sparkles in your eyes. De
- 70 "I do not measure a man by his inches," said Fleda."Then you have no particular predilection for shooting-men?""I have no predilection for shooting anything, Sir?""Then I am safe!" said he, with an arrogant little air of satisfaction. "I was born
- 71 "I shall not come down to breakfast. Don't look so, love! ? I can't help it.""Why was that calico got for me and not for you!" said Fleda, bitterly."A sixpenny calico!" said Mrs. Rossitur, smiling ? "it would be hard if you could not have so much
- 72 "Well! ? what is the matter? ? can't I have them?""Yes, yes, but ask me for what you want. You mustn't call upon Barby in that fas.h.i.+on.""Why not? Is she too good to be spoken to? What is she in the kitchen for?""She wouldn't be in the kitche
- 73 "I will see," he said, rising, "whether some other service cannot be had more satisfactory than that of fairies!""Now, Charlton," said Fleda, with a sudden change of manner, corning to him and laying her hand most gently on his arm, "please don't
- 74 "Why, a great deal of honour to the army and the nation at large.""Honour again! But granting that the army gained it, which they certainly did, for one I do not feel very proud of the nation's share.""Why, they are one," said Charlton, impatiently
- 75 CHAPTER XXIV."My lord Sebastian, The truth you speak doth lack some gentleness, And time to speak it in: you rub the sore, When you should bring the plaster."_Tempest_.The Evelyns spent several weeks at the Pool; and both mother and daughters conceiving
- 76 "My brother," said Charlton."I don't mean your brother, Captain Rossitur," said Thorn, throwing himself off his horse.He joined the party, who were just leaving the mill to go down towards the house. Very much at his leisure, Charlton dismounted, and
- 77 "I am sorry, Sir," said Fleda, smiling now, "that you have so many silver pennies to dispose of ? we shall never get at the gold.""I will do my very best," said he.So he did, and made himself agreeable that evening to every one of the circle; though
- 78 "Never mind ? in that case I will walk out too, into the kitchen.""Into the thick of it! No ? I will try some other way of relief. This is unendurable!"Fleda looked, but made no other remonstrance, and not heeding the look, Mr. Charlton walked out int
- 79 "He is killing himself!" said Fleda, letting her work fall, and hardly speaking the words through thick tears. Her head was down, and they came fast. Charlton stood abashed for a minute."You sha'n't do so, Fleda," said he gently, endeavouring to rai
- 80 "And your friend Mr. Olmney has sent us a corn-basket fill of the superbest apples you ever saw. He has one tree of the finest in Queechy, he says.""_My_ friend!" said Fleda, colouring a little."Well, I don't know whose he is, if he isn't yours,"
- 81 "No, indeed," said Fleda, brightly; "I am very glad I have come home. We will try and manage the troubles, aunt Lucy."There was no doing anything that day, but the very next afternoon Fleda and Hugh walked down through the snow to Mrs.Dougla.s.s's. I
- 82 "But the ride home was worth it all!"CHAPTER XXVI." 'Tis merry, 'tis merry, in good green wood, So blithe Lady Alice is singing; On the beech's pride, and the oak's brown side, Lord Richard's axe is ringing."LADY OF THE LAKE.Philetus came, and wa
- 83 "I am sure your wisdom would not advise me to tell you that, Sir. You will find nothing there, Mr. Olmney."They went gaily on, careering about in all directions, and bearing down upon every promising stump or dead pine-tree they saw in the distance. Hug
- 84 "Who were you driving with that day?" said Hugh."Mr. Thorn.""Did you see much of him?""Quite as much as I wished. Hugh, I took your advice.""About what?" said Hugh. "I carried down some of my scribblings, and sent them to a magazine.""Did you
- 85 "It is just like you! ? exactly as it can be.""Things put themselves in my head," said Fleda, tucking another splinter into the fire. "Isn't this better than a chandelier?""Ten times!""And so much pleasanter for having got it ourselves. What a n
- 86 "He made me wish," said Mrs. Rossitur, hesitating, "that I could be something different from what I am ? I believe I should be a great deal happier."The last word was hardly spoken. Fleda rose to her knees, and putting both arms about
- 87 "He has tuk himself off out o' town.""Where to?""I can't tell where teu ? he aint coming back, tain't likely.""How do you know?"" 'Cause he's tuk all his traps and went, and he said far
- 88 "To make little spouts, you know, for the sap to run in. And then, my dear Hugh, they must be sharpened at one end so as to fit where the chisel goes in. I am afraid I have given you a day's work of it. How sorry I am you must go to-morrow to th
- 89 Days gone by came marshalling their scenes and their actors before her; again she saw herself a little child under those same trees that stretched their great black arms over her head, and, swaying their tops in the wind, seemed to beckon her back to the
- 90 "What was the fate of Milo?" said Mr. Olmney, presently.. "Dont you remember the famous wrestler that, in his old age, trying to break open a tree, found himself not strong enough? and the wood closing upon his hands held him fast till the
- 91 Queechy.Volume II.by Elizabeth Wetherell.CHAPTER I."He that has light within his own clear breast, May sit i' th' centre and enjoy bright day." MILTON.The farming plan succeeded beyond Fleda's hopes ? thanks not more to her wisdom
- 92 Now, dear little Fleda," said Miss Constance, executing an impatient little persuasive caper round her, ? "won't you go out and order dinner? for I'm raging. Your woman did give me something, but I found the want of you had taken away
- 93 "That is to say, you are here to watch the transit of this star over the meridian of Queechy?""Of Queechy! ? of Montepoole.""Very well ? of Montepoole. I don't wonder that nature is exhausted. I will go and see after this ref
- 94 "Very good! And you'll send along somethin' for the men. Barby knows," said Earl, bobbing his head again intelligently at Fleda; "there's four on 'em, and it takes somethin' to feed 'em: workin' men '
- 95 "He doos not," said Philetus ? "he doosn't keep to hum for a long spell.""Who does send them, then?" said Constance."Who doos? It's Miss Fliddy Ringgan.""Mamma!" exclaimed Constance, looking up.&
- 96 "Mr. Thorn!" said Mr. Carleton."Yes," said Mrs. Evelyn, in an indulgent tone ? "he was very attentive to her last winter when she was with us, but she went away before anything was decided. I don't think he has forgotten her.
- 97 "And a most slack partner. Why didn't you keep me company?""I never was made for waltzing," said Hugh, shaking his head."Not to the tune of the north wind? That has done me good, Hugh.""So I should judge, by your ch
- 98 "Why not? ? why do you say so?""Because I must, if you ask me.""But what can be more excellent and estimable, Fleda? ? who could be more worth liking? I should have thought he would just please you. He is one of the most lovely yo
- 99 "To make the matter worse (if it could be), I have been informed privately, that he is going home to crown at the altar of Hymen an old attachment to one of the loveliest of all England's daughters. Conceive the complication of my feelings! ?&qu
- 100 "No, Sir. I have been there but once in the evening, uncle Orrin. He is just about sailing for England.""Well, you're going there to-night, aren't you? Run, and bundle yourself up, and I'll take you there before I begin my wo