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Orley Farm

Chapter 3 THE CLEEVE.

Word Count: 3042    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

considering his acknowledged position in the county. Such men not uncommonly have their tens, twe

y which was so beautifully situated as The Cleeve, or which had about it so many of the attractions of age. The house itself had been built at two periods,-a new set of rooms having been added to the remains of the old Elizabethan structure in the time of Charles II. It had not about it anything that was peculiarly grand or imposing, nor were the rooms large or even co

eful landlord. There ran a river through the park,-the River Cleeve, from which the place and parish are said to have taken their names;-a river, or rather a stream, very narrow and inconsiderable as to its volume of water, but which passed for some two miles through so narrow a passage as to give to it the appearance of a cleft or fissure in the rocks. The water tumbled over stones through this entire course, making it seem to be fordable almost everywhere without danger of wet feet; but in truth there was hardly a spot at which it could be crossed without a bold leap from rock to rock. Narrow as was the aperture through which the water had cut its way, nevertheless a path ha

o those who would agree with him and submit to him, but intolerant of contradiction, and conceited as to his experience of the world and the wisdom which he had thence derived. To those who were manifestly his inferiors he was affable, to his recognised equals he was courteous, to women he was almost always gentle;-but to men who claimed an equality which he would not acknowledge, he could make himself particularly disagreeable. In judging the position which a man should hold in the world, Sir Peregrine was very resolute in ignoring

y unworthy of credit. After that such a man or woman might as well spare all speech as regards the hope of any effect on the mind of Sir Peregrine Orme. He did not easily believe a fellow-creature to be a liar, but a liar to him once was a liar always. And then he was amenable to flattery, and few that are

rly as old as that of the Ormes; and therefore, though she had come penniless to her husband, Sir Peregrine had considered that his son had married well. She had been a great beauty, very small in size and delicate of limb, fair haired, with soft blue wondering eyes, and a dimpled cheek. Such she had been when young Peregrine Orme brought her home to The Cleeve, and the bride at once became the darling of her father-in-law. One year she had owned of married joy, and then all the h

d to him, and she has enjoyed all a child's privileges. There has been but little favour for any one at The Cleeve who has been considered by the baronet to disregard the wishes of the mistress of the establishment. Any word from her has been law to him, and he has of course expected also that her word should be law to others. He

in life, and then there were on it some few encumbrances. While yet a young man he added something to these, and now, since his own son's death, he has been setting his house in order, that his grandson should receive the family acres intact. Every shilling due on the property has been paid off; and it is we

sure that those whose boyhoods are so protracted have the worst of it, if in this hurrying and competitive age they can be saved from being absolutely trampled in the dust before they are able to do a little trampling on their own account. Fruit that grows ripe the quickest is not the sweetest; nor when housed and garnered will it keep the longest. For young Peregrine there was no need of competitive struggles. The days have not

t would be well to take the young man's name off the college books. This accordingly had been done, and the heir of The Cleeve was at present at home with his mother and grandfather. What special act of grace had led to this severity we need not inquire, but we may be sure that the frolics of which he had been guilty had been essentially young in their nature. He

Peregrine, and then took place that terrible interview,-such as most young men have had to undergo at least onc

't know," said y

Sir Peregrine, with severity. "A gentleman does not, I presume, send his orde

rine and

to E

they should all b

, sir? b

ooked full up into the baronet's face with his bright blue eyes,-not impudently, as though d

's shoulder. "Well, Peregrine, I will pay them," he said. "I have no doubt that you did so intend when you incurred them;-and that was perhaps natural.

her false nor a coward. He continued to scrawl down items as long as there were any of which he could think, and then handed over the list in order that his grandfather might add them up. It was the last he eve

ight; his forehead was not large, but well formed and somewhat prominent; his nose had something, though not much, of the eagle's beak; his mouth was handsome in its curve, and his teeth were good, and his chin was divided by a deep dimple. His fig

she was told that the master of Lazarus had desired that her son should be removed from his college, she had accused the tyrant of unrelenting, persecuting tyranny; and the gentle arguments of Sir Peregrine had no effect towards changing her ideas. On that disagreeable matter of th

think it well that he should prepare himself for the arduous duties of a master of hounds? Sir Peregrine did not think this at all well, but it did not appear that he himself was prepared with any immediate proposition. Then Peregrine discussed the matter with his mother, explaining that he had hoped at any rate to get the n

should like to go to Leicestershire this winter." But go

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1 Chapter 1 THE COMMENCEMENT OF2 Chapter 2 LADY MASON AND HER SON.3 Chapter 3 THE CLEEVE.4 Chapter 4 THE PERILS OF YOUTH.5 Chapter 5 SIR PEREGRINE MAKES A SECOND PROMISE.6 Chapter 6 THE COMMERCIAL ROOM, BULL INN, LEEDS.7 Chapter 7 THE MASONS OF GROBY PARK.8 Chapter 8 MRS. MASON'S HOT LUNCHEON.9 Chapter 9 A CONVIVIAL MEETING.10 Chapter 10 MR., MRS., AND MISS FURNIVAL.11 Chapter 11 MRS. FURNIVAL AT HOME.12 Chapter 12 MR. FURNIVAL'S CHAMBERS.13 Chapter 13 GUILTY, OR NOT GUILTY.14 Chapter 14 DINNER AT THE CLEEVE.15 Chapter 15 A MORNING CALL AT MOUNT PLEASANT VILLA.16 Chapter 16 MR. DOCKWRATH IN BEDFORD ROW.17 Chapter 17 VON BAUHR.18 Chapter 18 THE ENGLISH VON BAUHR.19 Chapter 19 THE STAVELEY FAMILY.20 Chapter 20 MR. DOCKWRATH IN HIS OWN OFFICE.21 Chapter 21 CHRISTMAS IN HARLEY STREET.22 Chapter 22 CHRISTMAS AT NONINGSBY.23 Chapter 23 CHRISTMAS AT GROBY PARK.24 Chapter 24 CHRISTMAS IN GREAT ST. HELENS.25 Chapter 25 MR. FURNIVAL AGAIN AT HIS CHAMBERS.26 Chapter 26 WHY SHOULD I NOT 27 Chapter 27 COMMERCE.28 Chapter 28 MONKTON GRANGE.29 Chapter 29 BREAKING COVERT.30 Chapter 30 ANOTHER FALL.31 Chapter 31 FOOTSTEPS IN THE CORRIDOR.32 Chapter 32 WHAT BRIDGET BOLSTER HAD TO SAY.33 Chapter 33 THE ANGEL OF LIGHT.34 Chapter 34 MR. FURNIVAL LOOKS FOR ASSISTANCE.35 Chapter 35 LOVE WAS STILL THE LORD OF ALL.36 Chapter 36 WHAT THE YOUNG MEN THOUGHT ABOUT IT.37 Chapter 37 PEREGRINE'S ELOQUENCE.38 Chapter 38 OH, INDEED!39 Chapter 39 WHY SHOULD HE GO 40 Chapter 40 I CALL IT AWFUL.41 Chapter 41 HOW CAN I SAVE HIM 42 Chapter 42 JOHN KENNEBY GOES TO HAMWORTH.43 Chapter 43 JOHN KENNEBY'S COURTSHIP.44 Chapter 44 SHOWING HOW LADY MASON45 Chapter 45 SHOWING HOW MRS. ORME46 Chapter 46 A WOMAN'S IDEA OF FRIENDSHIP.47 Chapter 47 THE GEM OF THE FOUR FAMILIES.48 Chapter 48 THE ANGEL OF LIGHT UNDER A CLOUD.49 Chapter 49 MRS. FURNIVAL CAN'T PUT UP WITH IT.50 Chapter 50 IT IS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE.51 Chapter 51 MRS. FURNIVAL'S JOURNEY TO HAMWORTH.52 Chapter 52 SHOWING HOW THINGS WENT ON AT NONINGSBY.53 Chapter 53 LADY MASON RETURNS HOME.54 Chapter 54 TELLING ALL THAT HAPPENED55 Chapter 55 WHAT TOOK PLACE IN HARLEY STREET.56 Chapter 56 HOW SIR PEREGRINE DID BUSINESS57 Chapter 57 THE LOVES AND HOPES OF ALBERT FITZALLEN.58 Chapter 58 MISS STAVELEY DECLINES TO EAT MINCED VEAL.59 Chapter 59 NO SURRENDER.60 Chapter 60 WHAT REBEKAH DID FOR HER SON.61 Chapter 61 THE STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION.62 Chapter 62 WHAT THE FOUR LAWYERS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.63 Chapter 63 THE EVENING BEFORE THE TRIAL.64 Chapter 64 THE FIRST JOURNEY TO ALSTON.65 Chapter 65 FELIX GRAHAM RETURNS TO NONINGSBY.66 Chapter 66 SHOWING HOW MISS FURNIVAL67 Chapter 67 MR. MOULDER BACKS HIS OPINION.68 Chapter 68 THE FIRST DAY OF THE TRIAL.69 Chapter 69 THE TWO JUDGES.70 Chapter 70 HOW AM I TO BEAR IT 71 Chapter 71 SHOWING HOW JOHN KENNEBY72 Chapter 72 MR. FURNIVAL'S SPEECH.73 Chapter 73 MRS. ORME TELLS THE STORY.74 Chapter 74 YOUNG LOCHINVAR.75 Chapter 75 THE LAST DAY.76 Chapter 76 I LOVE HER STILL.77 Chapter 77 JOHN KENNEBY'S DOOM.78 Chapter 78 THE LAST OF THE LAWYERS.79 Chapter 79 FAREWELL.80 Chapter 80 SHOWING HOW AFFAIRS