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,
- 401 Falconer saw that rivals.h.i.+p with the old earl and the young baronet had worked Mr. Clay into a pa.s.sion for Seraphina; but she thought she knew how a pa.s.sion for a singer must end, and as this did not interfere with her matrimonial designs, it gave
- 402 His father let him exhaust himself in declamation, certain that he would be brought to think of it at last, by the necessity to which he was reduced. The result was what the commissioner saw it must be. Creditors pressed--a jail in immediate view--no reso
- 403 No one knew better than Lord Oldborough how to seem receiving whilst he conferred a favour; and if ever he appeared harsh, it was only where he knew that the people to whom he spoke had not feelings worthy of his consideration. His lords.h.i.+p was as muc
- 404 "Sir--Pray, sir!--My new invention for rifling cannon--Ordnance department!--Sir, I did apply--War-office, too, sir!--It's very hard I can't get an answer--bandied about!--Sir, I can't think myself well used--Government shall hear more
- 405 'Strangely wild, or madly gay, I call'd it only pretty f.a.n.n.y's way.'"Fortunately, just as I was in imminent danger of exchanging true sighs for false smiles, I became acquainted with your sister Rosamond. In the country, and u
- 406 This affair, which was so near Mr. Gresham's heart, related to his dear Constance. Alfred had alluded to it in one of his letters, and Erasmus had begun to write the particulars to Rosamond; but he had not at the time leisure to finish the letter, an
- 407 When Caroline saw Lady Jane restored to her strength, and in excellent spirits, preparing to take possession of a handsome house in Spring-Gardens, she thought she might be spared to return to her own family. But Lady Jane would not part with her; she ins
- 408 "_Now_ your ladys.h.i.+p is not serious, I am sure," said Caroline."Never more serious--never so serious in my life; and, I a.s.sure you,"cried Lady Frances, speaking very earnestly and anxiously, "if you give the least hint, I wi
- 409 "Yes--Clay, of Clay-hall, as Mrs. Falconer would say. You see, my love, I told you truly, it was no blus.h.i.+ng matter. I am sorry I startled you by my abruptness. _Surprises_ are generally ill-judged--and always ill-bred. Acquit me, I beseech you,
- 410 The spell was upon him, and he could not articulate--a dead silence might have ensued, but that Lady Jane happily went on saying something about pine-apple ice. Lord William a.s.sented implicitly, without knowing to what, and replied, "Just so--exact
- 411 "Nothing, my dear Lady Jane.""Nothing? my dear Caroline.""I have no more to say--I have said all I can say."The carriage stopped at their own door."We are all in the dark," said Lady Jane: "when I have more lig
- 412 "I did--I am sensible of it--oh! you see I am; and my best--my very best have I done to drive him from my memory; and never, till I was forced to make this comparison, did I recollect--did I feel--Weak, I may be," said Caroline, changing from gr
- 413 Tales And Novels.Volume 8.by Maria Edgeworth.PATRONAGE CHAPTER x.x.xVI.No less an event than Alfred's marriage, no event calling less imperatively upon her feelings, could have recovered Lady Jane's sympathy for Caroline. But Alfred Percy, who h
- 414 When Alfred arrived, Lord Oldborough was engaged with some gentlemen from the city about a loan. By the length of time which the negotiators stayed, they tried Alfred's patience; but the minister sat with immoveable composure, till they knew their ow
- 415 "If I had seen cause to believe that you had any part in this transaction, sir, you would not be here at this moment: therefore your protestations are superfluous--none would be accepted if any were necessary."The very circ.u.mstance of the son&
- 416 "His majesty!" cried Lord Oldborough: "His majesty could not, I trust, for a moment imagine these letters to be I mine?""But for the hand and seal which I understood your lords.h.i.+p to acknowledge, I am persuaded his majesty cou
- 417 "Only a sketch, a scrawl in pencil, while they thought I was copying a Sonnet to Wisdom--on the worst bit of paper, too, in the world--old cover of a letter I stole from Lady Trant's _reticule_ while she was at cards. Mr. Temple, you shall see m
- 418 Yes--that, Alfred said, he knew; but what did her ladys.h.i.+p do with it?"You know how I got it! Bless me! you seem to know every thing I do and say. You know my affairs vastly well--you act the conjuror admirably--pray, can you tell me whom I am to
- 419 "What is to come?--Cunningham, perhaps," thought Mrs. Falconer; "or perhaps something about John. When will he speak?--I can't--I must--I am happy to see your lords.h.i.+p looking so well.""Is Mrs. Falconer acquainted with La
- 420 Lord Oldborough set out for the country at a very early hour in the morning, and no one previously knew his intentions, except Mr. Temple.He was desirous to avoid what it had been whispered was the design of the people, to attend him in crowds through the
- 421 The Count, in the strongest manner, expressed his grat.i.tude to his Prince for these proofs of his regard, given under circ.u.mstances the most trying to the human heart. He felt, at this instant, exquisite pleasure in revealing to his highness the truth
- 422 CHAPTER XL.Some sage moralist has observed, that even in the accomplishment of our most ardent wishes in this world, there is always some circ.u.mstance that disappoints our expectations, or mixes somewhat of pain with the joy."This is perfectly true
- 423 "No. 4. no such thing--stop, sir--Deed!"Alfred gave one look at the paper, and starting up, s.n.a.t.c.hed it from the hands of his clerk, with an exclamation of joy, signed the receipt for the commissioner, put it into his hands, locked the box,
- 424 Having produced the deed, conveying the Hamps.h.i.+re estate to his father, Alfred called evidence to prove the signature of Sir John Percy, and the handwriting of the witnesses. He farther proved that this conveyance had been formerly seen among his fath
- 425 "Not yet," said Alfred. Every eye turned upon him, some from pity, some from curiosity, to see how he bore his defeat. At length, when there was silence, he begged to be permitted to look at the sixpence. The judge ordered that it should be show
- 426 "As you are the only person in the world now who takes an interest in my affairs, or to whom I can safely unburden my mind, I must, though I know complaint to be useless, relieve my heart by it for a moment. I can safely say, that for the last ten ye
- 427 His lords.h.i.+p then opened the packet, examined the letters--read and re-directed some to the Duke of Greenwich, others to the king: the abbe, all the time, descanting vehemently on Neapolitan politics--regretting Lord Oldborough's resignation--adverti
- 428 "Yes," said Lord Oldborough, "_now_ I am happy--_now_, I also, Mr.Percy, may be proud of a son--I too shall know the pleasures of domestic life. Now I am happy!" repeated he, "And, pleased, resigned To tender pa.s.sions all his mighty mind."_March 2
- 429 _Phil._ Against a woman?--no fear--not a finger against a woman._Honor._ But I say not against any Rooney, man or woman. Oh, Phil! dear, don't let there be any fighting betwixt the McBride and Rooney factions._Phil._ And how could I hinder if I would? Th
- 430 [_Exit, singing,_ "Oh the boys of Ball'navogue."_HONOR, alone._ _Honor._ Oh, Phil! I _could_ not tell it you; but did you but know how _that_ Gerald O'Blaney insulted your s.h.i.+ster with his vile proposhals, you'd no more ask the loan of his horse!
- 431 _Mr. Carv._ Don't stir, pray--I beg--I request--I insist. I am by no means ceremonious, sir._O'Bla._ (_bustling and setting two chairs_) No, but I'd wish to show respect proper to him I consider the first man in the county._Mr. Carv._ (_aside_) Man! ge
- 432 _Mr. Carv._ She has too much sense: the father will settle that, and I'll settle the father. [_Mr. CARVER going._ _O'Bla._ (_following, aside_) And who has settled you?_Mr. Carv._ Don't stir--don't stir--men of business must be nailed to a spot--and I
- 433 _The High Road--A Cottage in view--Turf-stack, Hay-rick, &c._ _Catty Rooney alone, walking backwards and forwards._ _Catty._ 'Tis but a stone's throw to Ballynavogue. But I don't like to be going into the fair on foot, when I been always used to go in
- 434 _Catty._ Is it who told me? No--I won't mintion a sintence of your name.But let me by--I won't be put off now I've got the scent. I'll hunt 'em out, and drag her to shame, if they're above ground, or my name's not Catty Rooney! Mick! Mick! little M
- 435 _Old McB._ Why then he has a great opinion of you too, counsellor--for he has been advising of, and telling of me, O'Blaney, of your proposhal, sir--and very sinsible I am of the honour done by you to our family, sir--and condescension to the likes of us
- 436 _Pat._ But, couns.h.i.+llor, there's the big veshel in the little pa.s.sage--I got a hint from a friend, that the shuper got information of the spirits in that from some villain._O'Bla._ And do you think I don't know a trick for that, too?_Pat._ No dou
- 437 SCENE II._McBRIDE'S Cottage._ _MATTHEW McBRIDE and HONOR. (MATTHEW with a little table before him, at dinner._) _Old McB._ (_pus.h.i.+ng his plate from him_) I'll take no more--I'm done.[_He sighs._]_Honor._ Then you made but a poor dinner, father, aft
- 438 (_Aloud_) Well, what?--if it's any thing at all in rason._Honor._ It is in rason entirely. It's only, that if Catty Rooney's-- _Old McB._ (_stopping his ears_) Don't name her._Honor._ But she might be brought to rason, father; and if she should be bro
- 439 _O'BLANEY'S House._ _O'BLANEY and CATTY ROONEY._ _Catty._ And didn't ye hear it, couns.h.i.+llor? the uproar in the town and the riot?--oh! you'd think the world was throwing out at windows. See my jock, all tattered! Didn't ye hear!_O'Bla._ How co
- 440 Here, plase your honour.[_And when Mr. CARVER says_ "Ballynascraw," _all the McBRIDES bow, and reply--_ Here, plase your honour._Mr. Carv._ (_speaking with pomposity, but embarra.s.sment, and clearing his throat frequently_) When I consider and look rou
- 441 _Catty._ No Rooney, living or dead, was ever guilty or taxed with the like! (_Aside to her son_) Oh, they'll swear iligant! We'll flog the world, and have it all our own way! Oh, I knew we'd get justice--or I'd know why._Clerk._ Here's the book, sir,
- 442 _Phil._ Depind on it, it's all lies, Mrs. Rooney, says I, ma'am. No, but _you_ lie, flouris.h.i.+ng Phil, says she. With that every McBride to a man, rises from the table, catching up chairs and stools and toomblers and jugs to revenge Honor and me. Not
- 443 _Clerk._ I shall, sir. [_Exit clerk._ _Catty._ We'll see--we'll see all soon--and the truth will come out, and shame the _dibbil_ and the McBrides!_Randal._ (_looking out_) The man I bet, as I'm a sinner!_Catty._ What?--Which?--Where?--True for ye!--I
- 444 PHIL bows to Mr. and Mrs. CARVER, and to Miss BLOOMSBURY._ _Old McB._ Where are you now, Catty?--and you, Pat, ye unfortinate liar?_Pat._ (_falling on his knees_) On me knees I am. Oh, I am an unfortinate liar, and I beg your honour's pardon this once._M
- 445 _Mr. Carv._ I protest it makes me almost--almost--blow my nose._Catty._ Why, then, you're a good cratur. But who tould you I was a vixen, dear--plase your honour?_Mr. Carv._ Your friend that is gone._Catty._ O'Blaney?_Randal._ Frind! He never was frind
- 446 &c.ACT I.SCENE I._A Dressing-Room in Bannow-Castle, in Ireland._ _Enter Sir WILLIAM HAMDEN, in his morning-gown._ _Sir W._ Every thing precisely in order, even in Ireland!--laid, I do believe, at the very same angle at which they used to be placed on my o
- 447 _Gilb._ (_his face brightening_) For sartin, sir, 'tis the thing in the whole world I should like the best, and be the proudest on, if so be it was in my power, and if so be, sir, you could spare me. (_Holding his master's coat for him to put on._) _Sir
- 448 _Miss G._ Indeed, sir, whatever way you're walking, it's with your head upside down, as any body may notice, and that don't plase me at all--isn't it a shame, in a morning?_Christy._ Phoo! don't be talking of shame, you that knows nothing about it. B
- 449 [_Exit CHRISTY with the poker._ _Miss G._ There, Biddy, that will do--any how.--Just shut down the lid, can't ye? and find me my other shoe. Biddy--then, lave that,--come out o' that, do girl, and see the bed!--run there, turn it up just any way;--and B
- 450 [_Exit CHRISTY._ _Biddy._ 'Tis I that am glad they've taken themselves away, for there's no cooking with all the men in the fire._Enter Mr. ANDREW HOPE, Drum-major._ _Mr. H._ A gude day to you, my gude la.s.sy._Biddy._ The same to you, sir, and kindly.
- 451 _Widow._ Well, whatever troubles come upon me in this world, have not I a right to be thankful, that has such good childer left me?--Still it grieves me, and goes to the quick of my heart, Mabel, dear, that your brother here should be slaving for me, a bo
- 452 _Owen._ Gone to the well, and Gilbert with her. We met her, and he turned off with her, and I come on to tell you, mother dear._Widow._ Make me clear and certain; for I'm slow and weak, dear.Who told you all this good? and is it true?--And my child Mabel
- 453 _Clara._ A protege of yours!--Then it is granted, whatever it be._Sir W._ (_smiling_) Recollect your promise, Clara._Clara._ Oh, true--it must be in writing.[_She goes hastily to the writing-table, and takes up a pen._ _Sir W._ Read before you write, my d
- 454 _Enter BIDDY._ _Miss G._ Well, what is it?_Biddy._ The bed. I was seeing was the room empty, that I might make it; for it's only turned up it is, when I was called off to send in dinner.So I believe I'd best make it now, for the room will be wanting for
- 455 _Mabel._ I said nothing.--What could I say?_Omen._ I wish I'd been with you, Mabel._Mabel._ I'm glad you were not, Owen._Owen._ Well, what did he say next?_Mabel._ I tell you he said nothing, but cleared his throat and hemmed, as he does often._Owen._ W
- 456 _Mabel._ Money is it? Then there's no money you could send her--not the full of Lough Erne itself, in golden guineas, could make her amends for the loss of yourself, Owen, and you know that._Mr. H._ And I am not the man that would entice you to list, or
- 457 So this Scotchman could not list Owen. _Couldn't_ nor _wouldn't_, that's what he says; and the Scotchman looked very hard at me as he spoke: moreover, I seen Mr. Gilbert and him with their two heads close together, and that's a wonder, for I know Gilb
- 458 _Christy._ Major, you can't but drink her health for that compliment.[_He presents a gla.s.s of punch to Mr. HOPE._ _Mr. H._ Miss Gallagher's health, and a gude husband to her, and _soon_._Miss G._ And soon!--No hurry for them that has choice._Christy._
- 459 _Christy._ Then it all comes from the little finger getting to be the master of me; for I'm confident that when sober, I was not born to be a rogue nat'rally. Was not I honest Christy once? (_ready to cry._) Oh, I'm a great penitent! But there's no he
- 460 "Full b.u.mpers of whiskey, Will make us all frisky, On Patrick's day in the morning."_Miss G._ (_aside_) Oh! King of glory, if he is not come up after all!_Clara._ "What noise is that, unlike the former sound?"_Sir W._ Only some man, singing in hono
- 461 [_CHRISTY puts his finger on his lips, and bows to Sir WILLIAM and to CLARA._ _Sir W._ Now, Mr. Hope._Mr. HOPE sings, and the Band join in chorus,_ Though Bannow's heiress, fair and young, Hears polish'd praise from ev'ry tongue; Yet good and kind, she
- 462 _Clara_ and _Sir W._ Yes, speak--say all you wish._Owen._ I am but a young boy, and not able to keep the new inn; but Mr.Gilbert and Mabel, with my mother's help, would keep it well, I think; and it's they I should wish to have it, ma'am, if it were pl
- 463 Indeed, my dear mother, you have been prejudiced against her by false reports. Do not imagine that her fascinating manners have blinded my judgment: I a.s.sure you that I have discerned, or rather that she has revealed to me, all her faults: and ought not
- 464 No daughter ever felt more respect for the opinions of a parent than I do for yours, my dearest mother; but you have never, even from childhood, required from me a blind submission--you have always encouraged me to desire conviction. And now, when the hap
- 465 "Grace is in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love."But then it is grace which says nothing, a heaven only for a husband, the dignity more of a matron than of a heroine, and love that might have suited Eve before she had se
- 466 I have found it! I have found it! dear Gabrielle, rejoice with me! I have solved the metaphysical problem, which perplexed me so cruelly, and now I am once more at peace with myself. I have discovered the reason why I cannot love Leonora as she merits to
- 467 GABRIELLE DE P----.LETTER XIX.OLIVIA TO MADAME DE P----.How melancholy to a feeling heart is the moment when illusion vanishes, whether that illusion has been created by the magic of love or of friends.h.i.+p! How many such moments, Gabrielle, has your un
- 468 L---- Castle.Dear Margaret, an uncle of mine, who, ever since I can remember, seemed to me cut out for an old bachelor, writes me word that he is just going to be married, and that I must grace his nuptials. I cannot refuse, for he has always been very ki
- 469 "I am quite well, quite well again; I do not want any thing; I do not want any thing. I do not want you, Mason," said Leonora. "Lady Olivia is so good as to a.s.sist me. I am come in only to rest for a few minutes."The woman gave me an evil look, and
- 470 --"Un peu pa.s.see!" The Swiss is impertinent, and knows nothing of the matter. His master knows but little more. He would, however, know infinitely more if I could take the trouble to instruct him; to which I am almost tempted for want of something bet
- 471 "Say, for you know," charming Gabrielle, what is the delight of obtaining power over the human heart? Let the lords of the creation boast of their power to govern all things; to charm these governors be ours. Let the logicians of the earth boast their p
- 472 Josephine had been perfuming my hair, and I was sitting reading at my toilette; the door of my dressing-room happened to be half open; L---- was crossing the gallery, and as he pa.s.sed I suppose his eye was caught by my hair, or perhaps he paused a momen
- 473 Cecilia expression, whilst Mr. L----'s attention was fixed upon her, "Would to Heaven I was blessed with such a _reasonable_ temper!"--"When you are wis.h.i.+ng to Heaven, Lady Olivia," said I, "had not you better ask for _all you want_ at once; not
- 474 "If you had the misfortune to lose the affections of the man you love, and if you were quite certain of regaining them by following my recipe?"said I.Never shall I forget the look with which Leonora left me, and the accent with which she said, "My dear
- 475 Have I not left his heart at liberty, and can I make a greater sacrifice? I really do not understand what he means by sacrifices. A woman who loves her husband is part of him; whatever she does for him is for herself. I wish he would explain to me what he
- 476 L----, I know, has the offer of an emba.s.sy to Petersburg.--He shall accept it.--I will accompany him thither. Lady Leonora may, in his absence, console herself with her august counsellor and mother:--that proudest of earthly paragons is yet to be taught
- 477 I a.s.sure you I know what I am about, and am going straight to my object.The art of attending to trifles is the art of governing the world, as all historians know, who have gone to the bottom of affairs. Was not the face of Europe changed by a cup of tea
- 478 LETTER LXVIII.MR. L---- TO OLIVIA.Triumphant as you are over my heart, dear enchanting Olivia! you cannot make me false. I cannot, even to appease your anger, deny this morning what I said last night. It is inconsistent with all your professions, with you
- 479 MY DEAR FRIEND, It is well that I did not answer your letter of Sat.u.r.day before I received that of Monday. My congratulations upon your quarrel with your fair one might have come just as you were kissing hands upon a reconciliation.I have often found a
- 480 "Explain to you the cause of my melancholy "--Vain request!--cruel as vain! Your ignorance of the cause too well justifies my sad presentiments. Were our feelings in unison, as once they were, would not every chord of your heart vibrate responsively to
- 481 LETTER Lx.x.xIV.MRS. C---- TO THE d.u.c.h.eSS OF ----.MY DEAR MADAM, I believe, when I wrote last to your grace, I said that I had no hopes of the child's life. From the moment of his birth there was but little probability of his being any thing but a so
- 482 LETTER Lx.x.xIX.FROM OLIVIA TO MR. L----.Monday, 12 o'clock.For a few days did you say? To _bid adieu_? Oh! if once more you return to that fatal castle, that enchanted home, Olivia for ever loses all power over your heart. Bid her die, stab her to the h
- 483 The words "hated rival," which showed me that Olivia was actuated more by the spirit of hatred than love, made me reply in as decided a tone as even you could have spoken, my dear general. But I was shocked, and reproached myself with cruelty, when I sa
- 484 I open this to enclose the general's letter, which will explain every thing.LETTER XCVII.GENERAL B---- TO THE d.u.c.h.eSS OF ----.MY DEAR MADAM, Yarmouth.Your Grace, I find, is apprised of Lady Leonora L----'s journey hither: I fear that you rely upon m
- 485 Richmond.Words cannot express what I have suffered since I wrote last! Oh! why do I not bear that the danger is over!--Long since would I have been with you, all that my soul holds dear, could I have escaped from these tyrants, these medical despots, who
- 486 Mr. L---- will go to Russia. I am as far from happiness as ever.LETTER CVIII.OLIVIA TO MR. L----.Richmond."Say, is not absence death to those that love?"How just, how beautiful a sentiment! yet cold and callous is that heart which knows not that there i
- 487 "My dear friend," said she, looking up with tears in her eyes, "do not tempt me beyond my power to resist. Say no more." At this instant Mr.L----came into the room; and I am ashamed to confess to your Grace, I really was so little master of myself, th
- 488 Your general ideas of the habits and virtues essential to the perfection of the female character nearly agree with mine; but We differ materially as to the cultivation which it is necessary or expedient to bestow upon the understandings of women. You are
- 489 As to your dread of prodigies, that will subside:--prodigies are heard of most frequently during the ages of ignorance. A woman may now possess a considerable stock of information without being gazed upon as a miracle of learning; and there is not much da
- 490 JULIA AND CAROLINE.No penance can absolve their guilty fame, Nor tears, that wash out guilt, can wash out shame.PRIOR.LETTER I.JULIA TO CAROLINE.In vain, dear Caroline, you urge me to _think_; I profess only to _feel_."_Reflect upon my own feelings!_ a.n
- 491 Then, Julia, the wish to please becomes only a secondary motive, subordinate to the desire I have to secure my own self-complacency. We will examine how far they are connected.In reflecting upon my own mind, I observe that I am flattered by the opinion of
- 492 You say that "_he is not a judge of female excellence; that he has no real taste; that vanity is his ruling pa.s.sion_." Then if his judgment be dependent on the opinions of others, he will be the more easily led by the public voice, and you will comman
- 493 "Oh!" said she, "what are these voices?--Whither are you taking me?--For Heaven's sake do not let any body see me!"I a.s.sured her that she should go directly to her own apartment, and that no human being should approach her without her express permi
- 494 Tales And Novels.Volume 9.by Maria Edgeworth.TO THE READER.In my seventy-fourth year, I have the satisfaction of seeing another work of my daughter brought before the public. This was more than I could have expected from my advanced age and declining heal
- 495 "I could not use a dog so," said I."A dog, no! nor I; but this is a Jew.""A fellow-creature," said I."A fine discovery! And pray, Harrington, what has made you so tender-hearted all of a sudden for the Jews?""Your being so hard-hearted, Mowbray,
- 496 CHAPTER V.People like myself, of lively imagination, may have often felt that change of place suddenly extinguishes, or gives a new direction to, the ardour of their enthusiasm. Such persons may, therefore, naturally suspect, that, as "my steps retired f
- 497 _Now_, here's your friend, Mr. Harrington, says it's only a _prettiness_, and something about Ovid. I'm sure I wish you'd advise some of your friends to leave their cla.s.sics, as you did, at the musty university. What have we to do with Ovid in Londo
- 498 In this my London life, I found it irksome that I could never, as at dear Cambridge, pause upon my own reflections. If I stopped awhile, "to plume contemplation's wings, so ruffled and impaired," some of the low realities, some of the impertinent neces
- 499 "There is no danger of that sort," he replied. "Had she been disposed to judge so rashly and uncharitably, the humane and polite attentions she met with last night from a gentleman who was an utter stranger to her, and who could only know that she was
- 500 I had read accounts of some such thing in the newspapers of the day; I had heard of excesses committed by the soldiery, who were enraged against the Jew merchants; and I recollected some story [Footnote: Drinkwater's Siege of Gibraltar.] of the soldiers