The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Daughters of Danaus, by Mona Caird

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Title: The Daughters of Danaus

Author: Mona Caird

Release Date: June 18, 2007 [EBook #21858]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS ***

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[Transcriber's Note: This e-book was produced from a reprint of the
edition first published in 1894 in London by Bliss, Sands, and Foster.
Inconsistent spellings and hyphenations have been standardized. There
is one instance each of Cruachmore and Croachmore, so they have been
left as printed.]

_The Daughters of Danaus_

_Mona Caird_

1894

* * * * *

CONTENTS

_The Daughters of Danaus_ 1

Appendix: "Does Marriage Hinder a Woman's Self-development?"
by Mona Caird 535

* * * * *

THE DAUGHTERS OF DANAUS

CHAPTER I.

It was only just light enough to discern the five human forms in the
dimness of the garret; the rays of the moon having to find their way
through the deep window-embrasures of the keep. Less illumination would
have sufficed to disclose the ancient character of the garret, with its
low ceiling, and the graduated mouldings of the cornice, giving the
effect of a shallow dome. The house stood obviously very high, for one
could see from the windows for miles over a bleak country, coldly lit by
the rays of the moon, which was almost at the full. Into the half light
stole presently the sound of some lively instrument: a reel tune played,
as it were, beneath one's breath, but with all the revel and rollicking
emphasis of that intoxicating primitive music. And then in correspondingly
low relief, but with no less emphasis, the occupants of this singular
ball-room began to dance. One might have fancied them some midnight
company of the dead, risen from their graves for this secret revelry,
so strange was the appearance of the moving figures, with the moonlight
catching, as they pa