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Luttrell Of Arran

Chapter 7 A COTTAGE IN WALES.

Word Count: 3781    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

ty; a spot chanced upon in a summer's ramble, and bought at once with that zest which leads a rich man to secure the gem that has captivated his fancy. It stood on a little rocky platform that proj

the red-berried ash-trees drooped gracefully, and the dark copper beeches threw their bronzed shadows. Deep woods clothed the mo

It was a show place. It had been the scene of some romantic attachment, some half-remembered Abelard and Heloise, whose pictures yet survived, and of whom there were traditions of rustic benches where they used to sit; of trees whereon their initials w

ions of "Cicerone" which elevated him in the eyes of his fellows. If his love-story was not as affecting as Paul and Virginia, it had its realisms that compensated for some pathos. He could show the dairy where Chloe

ons as to your tastes and dispositions from the titles of the volumes on your table, and the names of your newspapers-to feel that, as the clock strikes a certain hour on a certain morning, all the cherished privacy which constitutes what we call home, is fled, and that your hall is a public street, and your drawing-room a piazza, so that you are driven to hide yourself in your own house, at the peri

," but of whose actual torments when you do come to suppress, no one has ever given the measure. They heard that the former owner usually set an hour or two apart on a Wednesday or a Thursday to gratify tourist curiosity; in fact, the cel

for about six or eight weeks of every year. It was Georgina Courtenay who resisted the custom as a most "unwarrantable intrusion, a practical impertinence," as she called it, which "reduced a family either to the condition of the cracked china

ld the tourists themselves, who had carried their romantic sympathies hundreds of miles by land or sea, agree to put up with a glance at the cottage chimneys by telescope, or a peep through the iron gate at the trim avenue, whose abrupt turning shut out all further inspection? If no splashed and booted aides-de-camps rode in to tell with trembling accents that popular sentiment had taken the menacing form of a silent and brooding anger, at least there were voices to declare that at "The Goat" the visitors were highly indignant, and that one of the strangers at the "Watkin's Arms" had despatched a copy of the manifesto, with a commentary, to the Times. Indeed, it was in the public room of this latter establishment that public indignation found its chief exponent. Visitors from far-off lands, a traveller from Ireland, a gentleman from the Uni

nk, with his head out of a hole." Whether from some lurking jealousy of the stranger, or some ungenerous disbelief in his address, the company did not accept his offer, or at least show such eagerness in the acceptance as they might, but broke up into twos and threes, discussing the

he going?" asked on

ndon, the family law-agent,

with a high complexion, and short grey hair, without whis

nmistakably Scotch-"the bit of fish, and the leg of a cold turkey-

d-six, Sir," said

f a right good meal up in town, and not served on a coarse tableclo

servant drank

ake no objection to his excess. Are these gentlemen wait

tion for us all-the far-famed cottage of Dinasllyn. We have learned, however, to our infinite disappointment, that, by a whim, a mere caprice-for it is impossible it could be more-of the persons' who are the present occupants, the travellers, the to

Your friends up yonder ain't content to have God's gifts all their own, but they won't even let a man look at them. Tha

for some few seconds Mr. M'Kinlay had turned to the l

e for Thomas, Mr. Pugh; and remember that your driver

e, with an energy that actually made the other

, having no acquaintance with you

know the length of my boot before he put his foot on my corns. You'll have to take them pa

ur messenger, Sir," said M'Ki

s how it is! And, as sure as my name is Dodge!-Herodotus Manning Dodge!-you'd better give an accoun

voice with a very distinctive accent, "and a man

sit," cried out

or Clorinda's grotto,"

nitory poke of his umbrella set his driver off at full

that smacked of the bush and the hickory-tree-a vague foreshadowing of Lynch law, or no law-that overpowered him. Such a man, within a reasonable distance of Scotland Yard, for instance, might not have proved so terrible; but here he was in the heart of the Welsh

tient mood was it that he sat outside the padlocked portal till a messenger went up to the house

actually met a deposed Prince on a Margate steamer. In the changeful fortunes of life the "price current" was the only test of anything. Railroads, and mines, and telegraphic companies rose and fell with the fluctuations of the market, and marriageable ladies might come one day to figure in the share list! Miss Georgina, however ungallant the confession, represented a security at a discount. She had gone down year by year, and at last ceased to be quoted. And yet "it was a good thing." She had, none knew it better-very few so well-she had eighteen thousand pounds, besides expectations, the latter very reasonable and promising in their way. Her connexions were admirable-high enough to give him a very considerable lift socially, and yet not so elevated as to make his rise that of a mere "parvenu." Professionally, the advantage would be great, and lead

he to the stout butler, who bowed

nlay-and, indeed, you

ds, that a little rest won't remedy

ms they mentioned were quite appalling. "Her Ladyship's not down yet, but Miss Georgina i

ost emphatic manner, Mr. M'Kinlay; but she only turned her head round, and, with a weak smile, said, "Oh, Mr. M'

val, Miss Conrtenay," said he, not altogether mastering the an

a letter; but I suppose it is an oversight you have never committed

areless of men. All about m

tedly aware of some favourable trait in his character. "Who would have thought it! It

inlay; "at least, if it be the town she sto

What's the

ich, after a brief search, he read, "Mademoiselle Heinzleman's addr

she, in a sort of soliloquy. "If there were no

s should have rendered you a servic

ows you are here," said she

ust have told her," s

ot; he is getting

so emphasized, for Rickards was o

and I'd not guess him a

as that atrocious activity which displays itself with certain middle-aged people by a quick, short

iled too, but he feared the cat

ther here, but he's away; he is cruisin

him, and only diverged at Crewe to come over here,

ith a sort of surprise that sent the bloo

est the sea; but Sir Gervais wants my advic

at of you, Mr. M'Kinlay, not to sanction this. None

the mischie

u mean by b

the agreement ratified, and everythi

s. You legal people needn't be told how to raise obstacles. A

h I ha

ster this distressing news. I don't know how she'll bear it! By the way," added she, as

ady Vyner, if she will accord m

ee you," cried she,

otally changed? Was it thus that they met last? He knew that she always had a certain flippant manner, and that she was eminently what the French call inconséquent; but she was

'Take a nonsuit.' Yes, most men would; but I'll do nothing rashly!" And with this wise resolve he took up a book and began to read; but still the hours roll

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1 Chapter 1 A WILD LANDSCAPE2 Chapter 2 A YACHTING PARTY.3 Chapter 3 AN OLD STORY4 Chapter 4 ON BOARD.5 Chapter 5 HOW THE SPOIL WAS DIVIDED6 Chapter 6 ON THE SEA-SHORE AT NIGHT7 Chapter 7 A COTTAGE IN WALES.8 Chapter 8 AN OLD BACHELOR'S HOUSE9 Chapter 9 MR. M'KINLAY'S TRIALS10 Chapter 10 THE SHEBEEN11 Chapter 11 THE LEGEND OF LUTTRELL AND THE---12 Chapter 12 THE WALK IN THE MOUNTAINS13 Chapter 13 THE PROJECT14 Chapter 14 A DISCUSSION15 Chapter 15 Mr. M'KINLAY'S MISSION16 Chapter 16 THE OLD LEAVES17 Chapter 17 THE NOR'-WESTER18 Chapter 18 A SKIPPER.19 Chapter 19 THE LAWYER "ABROAD."20 Chapter 20 THE SUPPER AT ARRAN21 Chapter 21 A WELCOME HOME22 Chapter 22 SOME WORDS AT PARTING23 Chapter 23 MALONE IN GOOD COMPANY24 Chapter 24 A QUIET TALK IN A GARDEN.25 Chapter 25 THE TWO PUPILS26 Chapter 26 THE DINNER IN THE SCHOOLROOM27 Chapter 27 KITTY28 Chapter 28 SIR WITHIN "AT HOME."29 Chapter 29 MR. M'KINLAY IS PUZZLED.30 Chapter 30 SCANDAL.31 Chapter 31 DERRYVARAGH32 Chapter 32 MR. M'KINLAY IN ITALY33 Chapter 33 SIR WITHIN AND HIS WARD34 Chapter 34 SIR WITHIN'S GUESTS35 Chapter 35 A WALK BEFORE DINNER36 Chapter 36 A NEW FRIENDSHIP37 Chapter 37 A WOODLAND RIDE38 Chapter 38 SCHEMING39 Chapter 39 WITH DOCTORS40 Chapter 40 A SUDDEN REVERSE41 Chapter 41 THE DARK TIDINGS42 Chapter 42 THE SANDS AT SUNSET43 Chapter 43 THE INSULT.44 Chapter 44 THE FLIGHT45 Chapter 45 ON ARRAN46 Chapter 46 THE STRANGER AT THE WELL.47 Chapter 47 HOW KATE WAS TASKED48 Chapter 48 HOW THE TASK TRIED HER49 Chapter 49 MR. O'RORKE ABROAD50 Chapter 50 TWO OF A TRADE.51 Chapter 51 THE BOAR'S HEAD52 Chapter 52 THE NIGHT AT SEA53 Chapter 53 THE GAOL PARLOUR54 Chapter 54 IN CONCLAVE.55 Chapter 55 STILL CONSPIRING56 Chapter 56 A HEAVY BLOW.57 Chapter 57 THE HOME OF SORROW58 Chapter 58 SIR WITHIN ABROAD59 Chapter 59 MR. GRENFELL'S ROOM60 Chapter 60 MR. M'KINLAY IN THE TOILS61 Chapter 61 MR. M'KINLAY'S "INSTRUCTIONS."62 Chapter 62 FISHING IN TROUBLED WATERS63 Chapter 63 WITH LAWYERS64 Chapter 64 ON THE ISLAND65 Chapter 65 THE LUTTRELL BLOOD66 Chapter 66 A CHRISTMAS AT ARRAN67 Chapter 67 A CHRISTMAS ABROAD68 Chapter 68 TRUSTFULNESS69 Chapter 69 THE END