The Cloister and the Hearth Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Cloister and the Hearth novel. A total of 160 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Cloister and the Hearth.by Charles Reade.PREFACE A SMALL portion of this tale appear
The Cloister and the Hearth.by Charles Reade.PREFACE A SMALL portion of this tale appeared in _Once a Week_, July--September, 1859, under the t.i.tle of "A Good Fight."After writing it, I took wider views of the subject, and also felt uneasy at having d
- 60 "I gather 'em off the trees by the road-side," said he surlily."Then you gathered these too ripe," said the hostess, who was only a fool externally."Ay, rotten ripe," observed another, inspecting them.Gerard said nothing, but pointed the circular s
- 59 "Why so many words?" said Denys. "This old fox is not the a.s.s he affects to be.""Oh! that is your advice is it?" said the landlord testily. "Well then we shall soon know who is the fool, you or me, for I have spoken to her as it happens; and what
- 58 "Who doubts that? Why she said so, round about, as they always say these things, and with 'nay' for 'ay'. 'I hope you will be happy together,'said I."Well one thing led to another, and at last as she could not give me her hand, she gave me a piece
- 57 "Preach away, comrade. Fling a byword or two at our heads. Know, girls, that he is a very Solomon for bywords. Methinks he was brought up by hand on 'em.""Be thy friends.h.i.+p a byword!" retorted Gerard. "The friends.h.i.+p that melts to nought at
- 56 "Oh; if _you_--_think_--you are _innocent_--officer, go with him to the cure! but see he 'scape you not. Innocent quotha?"They found the cure in his doublet repairing a wheelbarrow. Gerard told him all, and appealed piteously to him. "Just for using a
- 55 "What desecration!""Nay! nay! thou knowest we make them doff both glove and hawk to take the blessed eucharist. Their jewelled gloves will they give to a servant or simple Christian to hold: but their beloved hawks they will put down on no place less t
- 54 'Monseigneur,' said the cure right humbly, 'doth the parish allege many things against me, or this one only?' 'In sooth, but this one,' said the bishop; and softened a little. 'First, monseigneur, I acknowledge the fact.' "Tis well,' quoth the b
- 53 "IN prison, sir; good lack, for what misdeed?""Well, she is a witness, and may be a necessary one.""Why, Messire Bailiff," put in Denys, "you lay not all your witnesses by the heels I trow."The alderman, pleased at being called bailiff, became com
- 52 The landlord's hair rose visibly on his head like spikes, and his knees gave way as if his limbs had been struck from under him. But the archers dragged him fiercely up, and kept him erect under the torch staring fascinated at the dead skull which, white
- 51 There was a rush to the stairs, and half a dozen hard but friendly hands were held out and grasped them warmly. "Y'have saved our lives, lads,"cried Denys, "y'have saved our lives this night."A wild sight met the eyes of the rescued pair. The room f
- 50 And what was it? A moonbeam.Even so can this machine, the body, by the soul's action be strung up to start and quiver. The sudden ray shot keen and pure into that shamble.Its calm, cold, silvery soul traversed the apartment in a stream of no great volume
- 49 When they were almost starved with cold, and waiting for the attack, the door on the stairs opened softly and closed again. Nothing more.There was another harrowing silence.Then a single light footstep on the stair; and nothing more.Then a light crept und
- 48 "Coming."Put off time." Then aloud."Well, now, wilt have t'other bottle? say Nay.""No, not I.""But I tell thee, there are half a dozen jolly fellows. Tired.""Ay, but I am too wearied," said Gerard. "Go thou.""Nay, nay!" Then he went to the
- 47 "No. I am not mad. 'Tis you that were mad to open your purse before him."The mystery seemed to thicken, and Denys wearied of stirring up the mud by questions, held his peace to see if it would not clear of itself.Then the girl finding herself no longer
- 46 There is a theory that everything has its counterpart; if true, Denys it would seem had found the mind his consigne fitted.While he was roaring with laughter at its unexpected success and Gerard's amazement, a little hand pulled his jerkin and a little f
- 45 A little farther on they came to two pillars, and between these was a huge wheel closely studded with iron p.r.o.ngs; and entangled in these were bones and fragments of cloth miserably dispersed over the wheel.Gerard hid his face in his hands. "Oh to thi
- 44 "Nay, perverter of words, I mean we make not so free with strange women.""They must be strange women if they do not think you strange fools then.Here is a coil. Why all the old greasy greybeards, that lie at our inn, do kiss us chambermaids; faugh! and
- 43 "Where is the hurry? cannot you be content to pay when you go? lose the guest, find the money, is the rule of 'The Three Fish.'""But, dame, outside 'The Three Fish' it is thus written--'Ici--on ne loge--'""Bah! Let that flea stick on the wall!
- 42 "Denys," said Gerard solemnly; "you little know the peril you ran that night. That church you defiled amongst you is haunted: I had it from one of the elder monks. The dead walk there, their light feet have been heard to patter o'er the stones.""Mis
- 41 "Being thyself unable to speak ten words of _his_ language without a fault.""Well, all the world ought to speak French. What avail so many jargons except to put a frontier atwixt men's hearts?""But what said he.""What signifies it what a fool says
- 40 It was a dismal night, dark as pitch and blowing hard. They could neither see, nor hear, nor be seen nor heard: and for aught I know pa.s.sed like ghosts close to their foes. These they almost forgot in the natural horrors of the black tempestuous night,
- 39 Gerard turned, and saw one of those four holding out a badge of office and a parchment slip. His heart sank; for he was a good citizen, and used to obey the voice that now bade him turn again to Dusseldorf--the Law's.Denys did not share his scruples. He
- 38 "Ay marry, there is an university near a hundred years old; and there is a market place; no fairer in the world: and at the four sides of it houses great as palaces; and there is a stupendious senate-house all covered with images, and at the head of them
- 37 Even Denys changed colour at threats so fervent and precise; but Gerard only gnashed his teeth with rage at the noise, and seized his hard bolster with kindling eye.This added fuel to the fire and brought the insulted ancient back from the impa.s.sable do
- 36 "By the liver of Herod, and Nero's bowels, he'll make me blush for the land that bore me, an if he praises it any more," shouted Denys at the top of his voice.Gerard gave a little squawk, and put his fingers in his ears; but speedily drew them out and
- 35 "My head! my head!" was all poor Gerard could reply.So many shocks, emotions, perils, horrors, added to the wound, his first, had tried his youthful body and sensitive nature, too severely.It was noon of the same day.In a bedroom of "The Silver Lion"
- 34 This being communicated by Gerard, the man grinned; ever since Denys spoke he had seemed greatly relieved. "I wist not ye were strangers,"said he to Gerard.Denys cut a piece of bear's ear, and offered it with grace to him he had just levelled cross-bow
- 33 "It is well:" said he, "thou are a good limner; and fever is a great spur to the imagination. One day I lay in a cart-shed with a cracked skull, and saw two hosts manuvre and fight a good hour on eight feet square, the which I did fairly describe to my
- 32 "Behold," said Denys, and pulled the brute's ear playfully, and opened her jaws, and put in his head, with other insulting antics; in the midst of which Gerard was violently sick.Denys laughed at him."What is the matter now?" said he, "also why tumb
- 31 "You young milksop," roared Denys, "these things must not be looked at so, or not another bow would be drawn nor quarel fly in forest nor battle-field. Why, one of your kidney consorting with a troop of pikemen should turn them to a row of milk-pails:
- 30 "What breeding can you expect from women that wear no hose?" inquired Gerard; "and some of them no shoon? They seem to me reserved, and modest, as becomes their s.e.x; and sober, whereas the men are little better than beer-barrels. Would you have them
- 29 "Where is the hards.h.i.+p? I have lain among them all my life. Look at me!I am four score, and never had a headache in all my born days--all along of lying among the kye. Bless your silly head, kine's breath is ten times sweeter to drink nor Christians
- 28 "What is the matter?" said a traveller disdainfully. "Does the good cheese scare ye? Then put it hither, in the name of all the saints!""Cheese!" cried Gerard, "I see none. These nauseous reptiles have made away with every bit of it.""Well," rep
- 27 This punishment was a boon to Gerard, for thus he lay on the sh.o.r.e of odour and stifling heat, instead of in mid ocean.He was just dropping off, when he was awaked by a noise, and lo! there was the hind remorselessly shaking and waking guest after gues
- 26 The sun was nearly setting, and Gerard, who had now for some time been hoping in vain to find an inn by the way, was very ill at ease. To make matters worse, black clouds gathered over the sky.Gerard quickened his pace almost to a run.It was in vain: down
- 25 "And I must part from her," he sobbed, "we two that love so dear--one must be in Holland, one in Italy. Ah me! ah me! ah me!"At this Margaret wept afresh, but patiently and silently. Instinct is never off its guard, and with her unselfishness was an i
- 24 "No! no!" cried Gerard. "Death together, or safety. Ah! the mule! mount her, you, and I'll run by your side."In a moment Martin was on Ghysbrecht's mule, and Gerard raised the fainting girl in his arms and placed her on the saddle, and relieved Mart
- 23 "Get through this, and wait on the other side: then as they come straggling through, shoot three, knock two on the head, and the rest will kill us.""Is that all you can think of?" said Gerard."That is all.""Then, Martin Wittenhaagen, I take the lea
- 22 "Heaven and the saints forbid it!""He rolled off his mule like a stone shot out of a cart. Said I to myself, 'there is one wiped out.'" And the iron old soldier grinned ruthlessly.Gerard fell on his knees, and began to pray for his enemy's life.At
- 21 The house was empty.Not a creature to be seen, not even Peter. They went up-stairs, and then suddenly one of the men gave a shout, and pointed through Peter's window, which was open. The other looked, and there, at some little distance, walking quietly a
- 20 "No such luck," replied Dierich. "Hallo, mates. Jorian Ketel is a long time in that girl's bedroom. Best go and see after him, some of us."The rude laugh caused by this remark had hardly subsided, when hasty footsteps were heard running along overhea
- 19 It now flashed across Martin's mind that if they took Gerard away his life was not worth a b.u.t.ton; and that, if evil befell him, Margaret's heart would break. He cast his eyes wildly round like some savage beast seeking an escape, and in a twinkling
- 18 "Oh, not now, Gerard, not now," cried Margaret. "Every moment you lose fills me with fear; and see, large drops of rain are beginning to fall, and the clouds lower."Gerard yielded to this remonstrance: but he put the deed into his bosom, and threw the
- 17 In less than half an hour Dierich Brower and four constables entered the hosier's house, and demanded young Gerard of the panic-stricken Catherine."Alas! what has he done now?" cried she: "that boy will break my heart.""Nay, dame, but a trick of you
- 16 "Will you not come home with me, Gerard?" said little Kate."I have no home.""You shall not say so. Who is more welcome than you will be, after this cruel wrong, to your father's house?""Father? I have no father," said Gerard sternly. "He that wa
- 15 They hurried back, pa.s.sed the dangling rope, and made for a little square projecting tower. They had barely rounded it when the light shot trembling past them, and flickered uncertainly into the distance."A lantern!" groaned Martin, in a whisper. "Th
- 14 Peter had sat silent all this time, but pondering, and yet contrary to custom, keenly attentive to what was going on around him."Put not your trust in princes," said he."Alas! what else have we to trust in?""Knowledge.""Well-a-day, father! your lea
- 13 "Yes, Gerard; since they are so cruel, I will be the kinder: forgive me for refusing you. I will be your wife: to-morrow, if it is your pleasure."Gerard kissed her hands with rapture and then her lips; and in a tumult of joy ran for Peter and Martin. Th
- 12 "There!" cried Catherine, "that comes of driving young folk too hard.But men are crueller than tigers, even to their own flesh and blood.Now, Heaven forbid he should ever leave us, married or single."As Gerard came out of the house, his cheeks pale an
- 11 Margaret did not see he was wounded: she thought the blood was all from the deer.She busied herself at the fire, and the stout soldier stanched and bound his own wound apart, and soon he and Gerard and Margaret were supping royally on broiled venison.They
- 10 "He made me shut young Albert Koestein up in the prison of the Stadthouse till he knocked under: it was not long. Forty-eight hours, all alone, on bread and water, cooled his hot stomach. 'Tell my father I am his humble servant,' says he, 'and let me
- 9 "Now Heaven and the saints forbid! Man, torture not a mother! Speak out, and quickly: speak ere you have time to coin a falsehood: we know thee."Ghysbrecht turned pale at this affront, and spite mingled with the other motives that brought him here. "Th
- 8 At this Margaret's face gradually warmed; but presently, a.s.suming incredulity and severity, she put many shrewd questions, all of which Gerard answered most loyally. Finally, the clouds cleared, and they guessed how the misunderstanding had come about.
- 7 GHYSBRECHT VAN SWIETEN was an artful man. He opened on the novice with something quite wide of the mark he was really aiming at. "The town records," said he, "are crabbedly written, and the ink rusty with age."He offered Gerard the honour of transcrib
- 6 Margaret was nowhere in the crowd, and Gerard could not enjoy the performance: he actually went away in Act 2, in the midst of a much-admired piece of dialogue, in which Justice out-quibbled Satan. He walked through many streets, but could not find her he
- 5 Another followed suit:-- "She pa.s.sed this way but now with her nurse. She is gone to bed, doll and all. Deuce-ace again!"Gerard prepared to retire. The seneschal, with an incredulous smile, replied:-- "The young man is here by the countess's orders;
- 4 "I love you.""O for shame! you must not say that to me," and Margaret coloured furiously at this sudden a.s.sault."I can't help it. I love you. I love you.""Hush, hus.h.!.+ for pity's sake! I must not listen to such words from a stranger. I am un
- 3 "OPEN THE GATE, YE KNAVES! WAY THERE FOR GERARD ELIa.s.sOEN AND HIS COMPANY! (the friends go with him!)"The gate swung open as by magic. Eight soldiers lowered their pikes half way, and made an arch, under which the victorious three marched in triumphan
- 2 This spared them the "modern instances," and gave Gerard an opportunity of telling Margaret how proud his mother would be her soup had profited a man of learning."Ay! but," said Margaret, "it would like her ill to see her son give all and take none h
- 1 The Cloister and the Hearth.by Charles Reade.PREFACE A SMALL portion of this tale appeared in _Once a Week_, July--September, 1859, under the t.i.tle of "A Good Fight."After writing it, I took wider views of the subject, and also felt uneasy at having d