CRES 1

II. THE CITY OF THE DEEP SPRINGS 31

III. THE PALACE 59

IV. THE LADY OF BARLEY WOOD 83

V. SUNDAY AT FAIR ACRES 108

VI. AMONGST THE HEATHER 126

VII. ON SION HILL, CLIFTON 150

VIII. BARLEY WOOD 176

IX. A DARK CLOUD OVER FAIR ACRES 200

X. THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER 226

XI. MEETING 260

PART II.

XII. ON THE ROAD TO BRISTOL 285

XIII. A LULL IN THE STORM 314

XIV. THE STORM BURSTS 332

XV. TUMULT 358

XVI. "FIRE SEVEN TIMES HEATED" 372

PART III.

CHAPTER THE LAST. AT ABBOT'S LEIGH 405

PART I.

An English Home: grey twilight poured
On dewy pastures, dewy trees,
Softer than sleep: all things in order stored;
A haunt of ancient Peace.

TENNYSON.

CHAPTER I.

FAIR ACRES.

It was a fair morning of early summer, when the low beams of the eastern
sun, threw flickering shadows across the lawn, which lay before Fair
Acres Manor, nestling under the shelter of the Mendip Hills, somewhere
between Wells and Cheddar.

Truth compels me to say, that the lawn was covered with daisies, and
that their bright eyes looked fearlessly up into the blue sky; for
mowing machines were unknown, and the old gardener, coachman, and
universal out-of-door servant sharpened his scythe, only at long
intervals, to lay the heads of the flowers low, so that the daisies grew
and flourished, and had a good time of it.

I know that daisy-speckled turf is considered an offence in the eyes of
the modern gardener. I know with what zeal the spud is used; how large
bare places are regarded with delight; how seed is scattered over them,
which the birds watch with cunning glances from the neighbouring shrubs
and trees, and pounce down upo