CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
I.THE INMATES OF RAYNHAM ABBEY[1]
II.SHOWING HOW THE FATES SELECTED THE FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY TO TRY THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM[9]
III.THE MAGIAN CONFLICT[16]
IV.ARSON[21]
V.ADRIAN PLIES HIS HOOK[30]
VI.JUVENILE STRATAGEMS[35]
VII.DAPHNE'S BOWER[42]
VIII.THE BITTER CUP[47]
IX.A FINE DISTINCTION[55]
X.RICHARD PASSES THROUGH HIS PRELIMINARY ORDEAL, AND IS THE OCCASION OF AN APHORISM[60]
XI.IN WHICH THE LAST ACT OF THE BAKEWELL COMEDY IS CLOSED IN A LETTER[67]
XII.THE BLOSSOMING SEASON[72]
XIII. THE MAGNETIC AGE[83]
XIV.AN ATTRACTION[92]
XV.FERDINAND AND MIRANDA[97]
XVI.UNMASKING OF MASTER RIPTON THOMPSON[106]
XVII.GOOD WINE AND GOOD BLOOD[115]
XVIII.THE SYSTEM ENCOUNTERS THE WILD OATS SPECIAL PLEA[120]
XIX. A DIVERSION PLAYED ON A PENNY WHISTLE[124]
XX. CELEBRATES THE TIME-HONOURED TREATMENT OF A DRAGON BY THE HERO[127]
XXI.RICHARD IS SUMMONED TO TOWN TO HEAR A SERMON[145]
XXII. INDICATES THE APPROACHES OF FEVER[153]
XXIII. CRISIS IN THE APPLE-DISEASE[163]
XXIV. OF THE SPRING PRIMROSE AND THE AUTUMNAL[175]
XXV. IN WHICH THE HERO TAKES A STEP[180]
XXVI. RECORDS THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE HERO[199]
XXVII. CONTAINS AN INTERCESSION FOR THE HEROINE[213]
XXVIII. RELATES HOW PREPARATIONS FOR ACTION WERE CONDUCTED UNDER THE APRIL OF LOVERS[216]
XXIX. IN WHICH THE LAST ACT OF THE COMEDY TAKES THE PLACE OF THE FIRST[233]
XXX. CELEBRATES THE BREAKFAST[246]
XXXI. THE PHILOSOPHER APPEARS IN PERSON[255]
XXXII. PROCESSION OF THE CAKE[262]
XXXIII. NURSING THE DEVIL[279]
XXXIV. CONQUEST OF AN EPICURE[290]
XXXV. CLARE'S MARRIAGE[310]
XXXVI. A DINNER-PARTY AT RICHMOND[325]
XXXVII. MRS. BERRY ON MATRIMONY[341]
XXXVIII.AN ENCHANTRESS[352]
XXXIX. THE LITTLE BIRD AND THE FALCON: A BERRY TO THE RESCUE![376]
XL. CLARE'S DIARY[392]
XLI. AUSTIN RETURNS[409]
XLII. NATURE SPEAKS[420]
XLIII. AGAIN THE MAGIAN CONFLICT[429]
XLIV. THE LAST SCENE[437]
XLV. LADY BLANDISH TO AUSTIN WENTWORTH[454]