CONTENTS.
| PAGE | ||
| [CHAPTER I.] | ||
| BUSINESS AND LOVE | 1 | |
| [CHAPTER II.] | ||
| A SPECULATOR | 23 | |
| [CHAPTER III.] | ||
| A LATE VISITOR | 45 | |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | ||
| DOUBTS AND FEARS | 64 | |
| [CHAPTER V.] | ||
| A DISCOVERY | 85 | |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | ||
| IN THE LABYRINTH | 108 | |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | ||
| ALARMS | 131 | |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | ||
| THE CRISIS | 154 | |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | ||
| UNDER THE HOLLY | 169 | |
| [CHAPTER X.] | ||
| THE HOUR OF NEED | 180 | |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | ||
| A NIGHT'S VIGIL | 197 | |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | ||
| AFTERWARDS | 212 | |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | ||
| AN INTERRUPTION | 231 | |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | ||
| THE SETTLEMENT | 246 | |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | ||
| THE END | 258 |
HESTER.
HESTER.
[CHAPTER I.]
BUSINESS AND LOVE.
Roland had but a few days to spend at Redborough, where he came on the footing of an intimate friend and relation, sought and courted on all hands. His time was already portioned out among the Vernons before he came to pay his respects to Mrs. John and her daughter, though that was on the morning after his arrival. At a still earlier hour Emma had rushed in very tearful and dejected to beg Hester to intercede for her that she might not go away.