The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Bertrams, by Anthony Trollope

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Bertrams

Author: Anthony Trollope

Release Date: July 12, 2008 [eBook #26001]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BERTRAMS***

E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.

THE BERTRAMS.

A Novel.

by

ANTHONY TROLLOPE

Author of "Barchester Towers," "Doctor Thorne," etc.

In Three Volumes

VOL. I.

London:
Chapman & Hall, 193 Piccadilly.
1859.

[The right of Translation is reserved.]

London: Printed by W. Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street.

CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

I. VAE VICTIS!
II. BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
III. THE NEW VICAR.
IV. OUR PRIMA DONNA.
V. THE CHOICE OF A PROFESSION.
VI. JERUSALEM.
VII. THE MOUNT OF OLIVES.
VIII. SIR LIONEL BERTRAM.
IX. MISS TODD'S PICNIC.
X. THE EFFECTS OF MISS TODD'S PICNIC.
XI. VALE VALETE.
XII. GEORGE BERTRAM DECIDES IN FAVOUR OF THE BAR.
XIII. LITTLEBATH.
XIV. WAYS AND MEANS.
XV. MR. HARCOURT'S VISIT TO LITTLEBATH.

THE BERTRAMS.

CHAPTER I.

VAE VICTIS!

This is undoubtedly the age of humanity--as far, at least, as England
is concerned. A man who beats his wife is shocking to us, and a
colonel who cannot manage his soldiers without having them beaten is
nearly equally so. We are not very fond of hanging; and some of us
go so far as to recoil under any circumstances from taking the blood
of life. We perform our operations under chloroform; and it has even
been suggested that those schoolmasters who insist on adhering in
some sort to the doctrines of Solomon should perform their operations
in the same guarded manner. If the disgrace be absolutely necessary,
let it be inflicted; but not the bodily pain.

So far as regards the low externals of humanity, this is doubtless a
humane age. Let men, women, and children have bread; let them have if
possible no blows, or, at least, as few as may be; let them also be
decently clothed; and let the pestilence be kept out of their way.
In venturing to call these low, I have do