Chapter III: Fringilla

SOME TALES IN VERSE

By Richard Doddridge Blackmore

Contents

TO MY PEN

LITA OF THE NILE

KADISHA; OR, THE FIRST JEALOUSY

MOUNT ARAFA

THE WELL OF SAINT JOHN

PAUSIAS AND GLYCERA; OR, THE FIRST FLOWER-PAINTER

BUSCOMBE; OR, A MICHAELMAS GOOSE

FAME

DARIEL A Romance of Surrey BY R. D. BLACKMORE

WITH DRAWINGS BY CHRIS HAMMOND

1897

[Pg v] CONTENTS Chapter Page I A Nightingale 1 II The Family 9 III Tom Erricker 16 IV Mr. Stoneman 26 V Ticknor's Mew 39 VI True Hygiene 54 VII Kuban 63 VIII Through the Corn 74 IX Strange Sensations 89 X Upon the Ground 94 XI Sûr Imar 102 XII In the Background 109 XIII Smiles and Tears 119 XIV The Ruby Cross 132 XV Sister v. Sweetheart 143 XVI International Elements 149 XVII Peppercorns 158 XVIII A Lovebird 170 XIX To Clear the Way 181 XX Not for Sale 188 XXI Voices of the Valley 192 XXII Imar's Tale—War 197 XXIII Imar's Tale—Love 208 XXIV Imar's Tale—Peace 220 XXV Imar's Tale—Crime 227 XXVI Imar's Tale—Revenge 232 [Pg vi]XXVII Imar's Tale—Exile 241 XXVIII Sanguine Still 244 XXIX Large and Long Views 252 XXX In the Quiet Places 261 XXXI Pit-a-Pat 266 XXXII A Painful Duty 276 XXXIII Trembling 282 XXXIV Rejoicing 292 XXXV A Race of Platers 302 XXXVI Gone, Gone, Gone 313 XXXVII Lovers Make Moan 321 XXXVIII Black Friday 334 XXXIX Frangi, Non Flecti 344 XL Twain More Than Twin 352 XLI A Crooked Billet 363 XLII Farewell, Smiler 373 XLIII The Land of Medea 382 XLIV The Land of Prometheus 390 XLV Among the Gems 399 XLVI Queen Marva 409 XLVII Wolf's Meat 420 XLVIII Usi, the Svân 427 XLIX The Eye of God 433 L Two Old Friends 441 LI The Root of Evil 448 LII Still in the Dark 455 LIII A Ruthless Scheme 464 LIV The Valley of Retribution 472 LV At the Bar 481 LVI Hard is the Fight 488 LVII But Not in Vain 492

[Pg vii] LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. "Between whose Jagged Mullions flowed the Silvery Light"; Frontispiece "'Allow me one Moment,' I said"; Facing page 70 "Sprawling in the Yellow Stubble"; 90 "Why, it must at least be a Princess"; 146 "Her sweet, kind Face as white as a Shroud"; 168 "She turned away her Face"; 218 "At the Door she turned, with a proud and calm Farewell to me"; 238 "What little there is, is entirely a genuine Article"; 274 "Sûr Imar received us with a Loving Smile"; 300 "A Woman of Great Substance rushed up and caught her"; 308 "'Rot!' I replied, with less Elegance than Terseness"; 340 "'I tell you what,' he said, turning round and looking at me with Authority"; 378 "Gazed at the Captain till he scarce knew where he was"; 416 "'Yes, I see,' he answered softly"; 504

CRIPPS, THE CARRIER.

A WOODLAND TALE.

BY

RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

LONDON:

1892. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. The Head of the Family 1 II. The Swing of the Pickaxe 7 III. Oakleaf Potatoes 14 IV. Cripps in a Quandary 21 V. A Ride through the Snow 24 VI. The Public of the "Public" 30 VII. The Best Foot foremost 37 VIII. Balderdash 43 IX. Cripps in Affliction 50 X. All dead against him 55 XI. Knocker versus Bell-pull 60 XII. Mr. John Smith 68 XIII. Mr. Smith is active 74 XIV. So is Mr. Sharp 79 XV. A Spotted Dog 85 XVI. A Grand Smock-frock 91 XVII. Installed at Brasenose 98 XVIII. A Flash of Light 104 XIX. A Stormy Night 110 XX. Cripps draws the Cork 120 XXI. Cinnaminta 127 XXII. A Delicate Subject 132 XXIII. Quite another Pair of Socks! 141 XXIV. Suo sibi baculo 149 XXV. Miss Patch 157 XXVI. Ruts 164 XXVII. Rats 173 XXVIII. Boots on 180 XXIX. A Spider's Dinner-party 190 XXX. The Fire-bell 198 XXXI. Throw Physic to the Dogs 206 XXXII. Cripps on Celibacy 214 XXXIII. Kit 223 XXXIV. A Woolhopian 230 XXXV. Nightingales 237 XXXVI. May Morn 242 XXXVII. May-Day 248 XXXVIII. The Dignity of the Family 259 XXXIX. A Tombstone 267 XL. Let me out 276 XLI. Reason and Unreason 284 XLII. Meeting the Coach 291 XLIII. The Motive 300 XLIV. The Manner 307 XLV. The Position 313 XLVI. In the Meshes 324 XLVII. Combined Wisdom 335 XLVIII. Masculine Error 342 XLIX. Prometheus Vinctus 351 L. Feminine Error 361 LI. Unfilial 367 LII. Unpaternal 375 LIII. "This will do" 386 LIV. Cripps brings home the Crown 391 LV. Smith to the Rescue 402 LVI. Fatal Accident to the Carrier 410

PERLYCROSS

A TALE OF THE WESTERN HILLS

BY

R. D. BLACKMORE CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. —The Lap of Peace 1 II. —Fairy Faith 6 III. —The Lych-Gate 12 IV. —Nicie 19 V. —A Fair Bargain 28 VI. —Doctors Three 37 VII. —R. I. P. 48 VIII. —The Potato-Field 57 IX. —The Narrow Path 66 X. —In Charge 73 XI. —At the Charge 80 XII. —A Fool's Errand 87 XIII. —The Law of The Land 101 XIV. —Reasoning without Reason 109 XV. —Friends and Foes 118 XVI. —Little Billy 128 XVII. —Camelias 139 XVIII. —Concussion 149 XIX. —Percussion 161 XX. —Discussion 172 XXI. —Blackmarsh 184 XXII. —Fireship and Galleon 197 XXIII. —A Magic Letter 211 XXIV. —A Wager 225 XXV. —A Sermon in Stone 241 XXVI. —The Old Mill 252 [Pg iv]XXVII. —Panic 263 XXVIII. —Vagabonds 277 XXIX. —Two Puzzles 291 XXX. —Frankly Speaking 300 XXXI. —A Great Prize 311 XXXII. —Pleadings 321 XXXIII. —The Schoolmaster Abroad 331 XXXIV. —Loyalty 341 XXXV. —A Wrestling Bout 352 XXXVI. —A Fighting Bout 363 XXXVII. —Gentle as a Lamb 374 XXXVIII. —An Inland Run 384 XXXIX —Needful Returns 394 XL —Home and Foreign 406 XLI —The Pride of Life 416 XLII —His Last Bivouac 426 XLIII —Two Fine Lessons 435 XLIV —And One still Finer 445

THE MAID OF SKER. BY R. D. BLACKMORE, CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. FISHERMAN DAVY A FISH OUT OF WATER, 1 II. HUNGER DRIVES HIM A-FISHING, 3 III. THE FISH ARE AS HUNGRY AS HE IS, 7 IV. HE LANDS AN UNEXPECTED FISH, 12 V. A LITTLE ORPHAN MERMAID, 15 VI. FINDS A HOME OF SOME SORT, 21 VII. BOAT VERSUS BARDIE, 27 VIII. CHILDREN WILL BE CHILDREN, 32 IX. SANDHILLS TURNED TO SAND-HOLES, 38 X. UNDER THE ROCK, 44 XI. A WRECKER WRECKED, 49 XII. HOW TO SELL FISH, 57 XIII. THE CORONER AND THE CORONET, 64 XIV. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EVIDENCE, 70 XV. A VERDICT ON THE JURY, 76 XVI. TRUTH LIES SOMETIMES IN A WELL, 81 XVII. FOR A LITTLE CHANGE OF AIR, 89 XVIII. PUBLIC APPROBATION, 97 XIX. A CRAFT BEYOND THE LAW, 106 XX. CONFIDENTIAL INTERCOURSE, 112 XXI. CROSS-EXAMINATION, 119 XXII. ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT, 125 XXIII. INTO GOOD SOCIETY, 131 XXIV. SOUND INVESTMENTS, 137 XXV. A LONG GOOD-BYE, 145 XXVI. BRAUNTON BURROWS, 151 XXVII. A FINE SPECTACLE, 158 XXVIII. SOMETHING ABOUT HIM, 164 XXIX. A VISIT TO A PARSON, 171 XXX. ON DUTY, 182 XXXI. TWO LOVERS, 189 XXXII. [Pg vi] AMONG THE SAVAGES, 194 XXXIII. IN A STATE OF NATURE, 203 XXXIV. WAITING AND LEARNING, 212 XXXV. THE POLITE FERRYMAN, 220 XXXVI. UNDER FAIRER AUSPICES, 227 XXXVII. TWO POOR CHILDREN, 234 XXXVII. A FINE OLD GENTLEMAN, 241 XXXIX. NOTICE TO QUIT, 250 XL. FORCIBLE EJECTMENT, 257 XLI. THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE, 267 XLII. THE LITTLE MAID AND THE MIDSHIPMAN, 276 XLIII. A FINE PRICE FOR BARDIE, 283 XLIV. PROVIDES FOR EDUCATION, 292 XLV. INTRODUCES A REAL HERO, 298 XLVI. AFTER SEVEN YEARS, 305 XLVII. MISCHIEF IN A HOUSEHOLD, 312 XLVIII. A BREATHLESS DISINTERMENT, 320 XLIX. ONE WHO HAS INTERRED HIMSELF, 327 L. A BRAVE MAN RUNS AWAY, 334 LI. TRIPLE EDUCATION, 341 LII. GREAT MARCH OF INTELLECT, 347 LIII. BEATING UP FOR THE NAVY, 356 LIV. TAMING OF THE SAVAGES, 368 LV. UPON FOREIGN SERVICE, 374 LVI. EXILES OF SOCIETY, 380 LVII. MANY WEAK MOMENTS, 387 LVIII. MORE HASTE, LESS SPEED, 398 LIX. IN A ROCKY BOWER, 403 LX. NELSON AND THE NILE, 411 LXI. A SAVAGE DEED, 415 LXII. A RASH YOUNG CAPTAIN, 421 LXIII. POLLY AT HOME, 430 LXIV. SUSAN QUITE ACQUITS HERSELF, 438 LXV. SO DOES POOR OLD DAVY, 447 LXVI. THE MAID AT LAST IS "DENTIFIED," 453 LXVII. DOG EATS DOG, 458 LXVIII. THE OLD PITCHER AT THE WELL AGAIN, 465

THE REMARKABLE HISTORY OF SIR THOMAS UPMORE, BART., M.P., FORMERLY KNOWN AS "TOMMY UPMORE." Non usitatâ, non tenui ferar Pennâ——

[Pg vii] CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. Signs of Eminence 1 II. Itur ad Astra 10 III. The Dawn of Science 16 IV. The Pursuit of Science 25 V. "Grip" 43 VI. True Science 54 VII. The Great Washed 65 VIII. For Change of Air 75 IX. Thalatta! 86 X. The New Admiral 96 XI. Large Ideas 106 XII. Twentifold Towers 119 XIII. Whalebones 131 XIV. A Silly Pair 145 XV. Political Œconomy 156 XVI. No Extras 166 XVII. Self-defence 178 XVIII. Ah Me! 189 XIX. Comfort 199 XX. Boil no more 209 XXI. The Seat of Learning 219 XXII. Hereditary Laws 229 [Pg viii]XXIII. A County Meeting 237 XXIV. Old Bones, and Young Ones 247 XXV. On the Rocks 256 XXVI. Beneath them 266 XXVII. Pleasant, and Unpleasant Things 277 XXVIII. The Welfare of the Family 286 XXIX. Because he had no Pity 295 XXX. Perfidy 303 XXXI. Free Trade 314 XXXII. A Pair of Blue Eyes 326 XXXIII. Strong Intentions 338 XXXIV. Fames Famæ 350 XXXV. National Emergency 362 XXXVI. Vote for Tommy! 371 XXXVII. Sunny Bay 379 XXXVIII. Prepare 386 XXXIX. For Public and Private Benefit 393 XL. Fair Counsel 398 XLI. The Right Way to Surrender 406 XLII. Spars 415 XLIII. The Battle, and the Breeze 421 XLIV. The English Lion 435

CRADOCK NOWELL

A Tale of the New forest.

BY

RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

AUTHOR OF "CLARA VAUGHAN".

"You have said: whether wisely or no, let the forest judge".

As You Like It, Act III. Sc. 2.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

1866.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. Chapter Page I. 1 II. 10 III. 17 IV. 26 V. 42 VI. 46 VII. 54 VIII. 66 IX. 75 X. 81 XI. 95 XII. 102 XIII. 113 XIV. 125 XV. 134 XVI. 145 XVII. 158 XVIII. 170 XIX. 185 XX. 195 XXI. 204 XXII. 210 XXIII. 222 XXIV. 239 XXV. 265 XXVI. 281 XXVII. 293 XXVIII. 309

CRADOCK NOWELL

A Tale of the New Forest.

BY

RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

AUTHOR OF "CLARA VAUGHAN."

"You have said: whether wisely or no, let the forest judge."

As You Like It, Act III. Sc. 2.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

1866. CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. Chapter Page I. 1 II. 35 III. 52 IV. 72 V. 91 VI. 111 VII. 128 VIII. 147 IX. 172 X. 190 XI. 217 XII. 236 XIII. 245 XIV. 253 XV. 274 XVI. 287 XVII. 300

CRADOCK NOWELL

A Tale of the New Forest.

BY

RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

"You have said: whether wisely or no, let the forest judge."

As You Like It, Act III. Sc. 2.

IN THREE VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

1866. CONTENTS OF VOLUME III. Chapter Page I. 1 II. 10 III. 21 IV. 49 V. 64 VI. 80 VII. 102 VIII. 122 IX. 142 X. 163 XI. 173 XII. 190 XIII. 202 XIV. 219 XV. 234 XVI. 264 XVII. 276 XVIII. 298

ALICE LORRAINE:

A TALE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS

. BY

RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

1893 CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.— ALL IN THE DOWNS 1 II.— COOMBE LORRAINE 3 III.— LINEAGE AND LINEAMENTS 5 IV.— FATHER AND FAVOURITE 7 V.— THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER 11 VI.— THE LEGEND CONTINUED 14 VII.— THE LEGEND CONCLUDED 17 VIII.— ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST 20 IX.— THE LEGACY OF THE ASTROLOGER 24 X.— A BOY AND A DONKEY 27 XI.— CHAMBER PRACTICE 35 XII.— WITH THE COSTERMONGERS 45 XIII.— TO THE CHERRY-ORCHARDS 49 XIV.— BEAUTIES OF THE COUNTRY 55 XV.— OH, RUDDIER THAN THE CHERRY! 59 XVI.— OH, SWEETER THAN THE BERRY! 66 XVII.— VERY SHY THINGS 72 XVIII.— THE KEY OF THE GATE 78 XIX.— FOUR YOUNG LADIES 84 XX.— A RECTOR OF THE OLDEN STYLE 92 XXI.— A NOTABLE LADY 96 XXII.— A MALIGNANT CASE 100 XXIII.— THE BAITER BAITED 105 XXIV.— A FATHERLY SUGGESTION 109 XXV.— THE WELL OF THE SIBYL 112 XXVI.— AN OPPORTUNE ENVOY 117 XXVII.— A GOOD PARSONâ?TS HOLIDAY 121 XXVIII.— NOT TO BE RESISTED 126 XXIX.— ABSURD SURDS 130 XXX.— OUR LAD STEENIE 135 XXXI.— IN A MARCHING REGIMENT 139 XXXII.— PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPINION 144 XXXIII.— RAGS AND BONES 149 XXXIV.— UNDER DEADLY FIRE 157 XXXV.— HOW TO FRY NO PANCAKES 161 XXXVI.— LADY COKE UPON LITTLETON 166 XXXVII.— ACHES v. ACRES 172 XXXVIII.— IN THE DEADLY BREACH 177 XXXIX.— SHERRY SACK 183 XL.— BENEATH BRIGHT EYES 191 XLI.— DONNAS PRAY AND PRACTISE 195 XLII.— AN UNWELCOME ESCORT 200 XLIII.— IN AMONG THE BIG-WIGS 209 XLIV.— HOW TO TAKE BAD TIDINGS 216 XLV.— INNOCENCE IN NO SENSE 220 XLVI.— HARD RIDING AND HARD READING 226 XLVII.— TRY TO THINK THE BEST OF ME 234 XLVIII.— SOMETHING WORTH KISSING 239 XLIX.— A DANGEROUS COMMISSION 245 L.— STERLING AND STRIKING AFFECTION 250 LI.— EMPTY LOCKERS 259 LII.— BE NO MORE OFFICER OF MINE 264 LIII.— FAREWELL, ALL YOU SPANISH LADIES 268 LIV.— GOING UP THE TREE 275 LV.— THE WOEBURN 281 LVI.— GOING DOWN THE HILL 290 LVII.— THE PLEDGE OF A LIFE 297 LVIII.— A HEROâ?TS RETURN 304 LIX.— THE GRAVE OF THE ASTROLOGER 312 LX.— COURTLY MANNERS 316 LXI.— A SAMPLE FROM KENT 322 LXII.— A FAMILY ARRANGEMENT 327 LXIII.— BETTER THAN THE DOCTORS 332 LXIV.— IMPENDING DARKNESS 335 LXV.— A FINE CHRISTMAS SERMON 341 LXVI.— COMING DOWN IN EARNEST 344 LXVII.— THE LAST CHANCE LOST 348 LXVIII.— THE DEATH-BOURNE 353 LXIX.— BOTTLER BEATS THE ELEMENTS 357 LXX.— OH, HARO! HARO! HARO! 361 LXXI.— AN ARGUMENT REFUTED 367 LXXII.— ON LETHEâ?TS WHARF 370 LXXIII.— POLLYâ?TS DOLL 374 LXXIV.— FROM HADESâ?T GATES 377 LXXV.— SOMETHING LIKE A LEGACY 380 LXXVI.— SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION 385 LXXVII.— HER HEART IS HIS 387 LXXVIII.— THE LAST WORD COMES FROM BONNY 390

KIT AND KITTY

A Story of West Middlesex

BY R. D. BLACKMORE

1894 CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.- UNCLE CORNY 1 II.- MY KITTY 3 III.- THE TIMBER-BRIDGE 7 IV.- PEACHES, AND PEACHING 12 V.- A LITTLE TIFF 18 VI.- THE BEAUTIES OF NATURE 22 VII.- DE GUSTIBUS 29 VIII.- BAD COUNSEL 37 IX.- A DOG VIOLATE 42 X.- AN UPWARD STROKE 50 XI.- THE FINE ARTS 55 XII.- AN EMPTY PILE 61 XIII.- MY UNCLE BEGINS 67 XIV.- AND ENDS WITH A MORAL 74 XV.- MORAL SUPPORT 82 XVI.- TRUE LOVE 89 XVII.- TRUE FATHER 96 XVIII.- FALSE MOTHER 102 XIX.- DOE DEM. ROE 109 XX.- AUNT PARSLOW 115 XXI.- A TULIP BLOOM 122 XXII.- COLDPEPPER HALL 128 XXIII.- AT BAY, AND IN THE BAY 135 XXIV.- HARO! 141 XXV.- ON THE SHELF 149 XXVI.- A DOWNY COVE 155 XXVII.- OFF THE SHELF 162 XXVIII.- OUT OF ALL REASON 168 XXIX.- A FINE TIP 175 XXX.- BASKETS 183 XXXI.- THE GIANT OF THE HEATH 189 XXXII.- A DREAM 199 XXXIII.- URGENT MEASURES 206 XXXIV.- TWO TO ONE 214 XXXV.- UNDER THE GARDEN WALL 219 XXXVI.- FROST IN MAY 226 XXXVII.- COLD COMFORT 233 XXXVIII.- NONE 241 XXXIX.- ON TWO CHAIRS 248 XL.- JOB'S COMFORT 256 XLI.- TRUE COMFORT 262 XLII.- BEHIND THE FIDDLE 268 XLIII.- THE GREAT LADY 275 XLIV.- MET AGAIN 282 XLV.- ROGUES FALL OUT 288 XLVI.- TONY TONKS 296 XLVII.- TOADSTOOLS 303 XLVIII.- THE DUCHESS 310 XLIX.- CRAFTY, AND SIMPLE 317 L.- A POCKETFUL OF MONEY 325 LI.- NOT IN A HURRY 332 LII.- A WANDERING GLEAM 338 LIII.- A BAD NIGHT 343 LIV.- PRINCE'S MANSION 350 LV.- RELIEF OF MIND 356 LVI.- ANOTHER TRACE 359 LVII.- A VAIN APPEAL 366 LVIII.- UNCLE CORNY'S LOVE-TALE 373 LXIX.- A COOL REQUEST 380 LX.- ALIVE IN DEATH 387 LXI.- ZINKA 396 LXII.- HASTE TO THE WEDDING 402 LXIII.- THERE SAT KITTY 408 LXIV.- A MENSÂ ET TORO 414 LXV.- HER OWN WAY 420 LXVI.- ONE GOOD WISH 427