This eBook was produced from the 1907 Macmillan and Co. edition byLes Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset.
“Vitae post-scenia celant.”—Lucretius.
This somewhat frivolous narrative was produced as an interlude betweenstories of a more sober design, and it was given the sub-title of acomedy to indicate—though not quite accurately—the aim ofthe performance. A high degree of probability was not attemptedin the arrangement of the incidents, and there was expected of the readera certain lightness of mood, which should inform him with a good-naturedwillingness to accept the production in the spirit in which it was offered. The characters themselves, however, were meant to be consistent andhuman.
On its first appearance the novel suffered, perhaps deservedly, forwhat was involved in these intentions—for its quality of unexpectednessin particular—that unforgivable sin in the critic’s sight—theimmediate precursor of ‘Ethelberta’ having been a purelyrural tale. Moreover, in its choice of medium, and line of perspective,it undertook a delicate task: to excite interest in a drama—ifsuch a dignified word may be used in the connection—wherein servantswere as important as, or more important than, their masters; whereinthe drawing-room was sketched in many cases from the point of view ofthe servants’ hall. Such a reversal of the social foregroundhas, perhaps, since grown more welcome, and readers even of the finercrusted kind may now be disposed to pardon a writer for presenting thesons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Chickerel as beings who come withinthe scope of a congenial regard.
T. H.
December 1895.
1. A STREET IN ANGLEBURY—A HEATH NEAR IT—INSIDETHE ‘RED LION’ INN
2. CHRISTOPHER’S HOUSE—SANDBOURNE TOWN—SANDBOURNEMOOR
3. SANDBOURNE MOOR (continued)
4. SANDBOURNE PIER—ROAD TO WYNDWAY—BALLROOM IN WYNDWAYHOUSE
5. AT THE WINDOW—THE ROAD HOME
6. THE SHORE BY WYNDWAY
7. THE DINING-ROOM OF A TOWN HOUSE—THE BUTLER’S PANTRY
8. CHRISTOPHER’S LODGINGS—THE GROUNDS ABOUT ROOKINGTON
9. A LADY’S DRAWING-ROOMS—ETHELBERTA’S DRESSING-ROOM
10. LADY PETHERWIN’S HOUSE
11. SANDBOURNE AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD—SOME LONDON STREETS
12. ARROWTHORNE PARK AND LODGE
13. THE LODGE (continued)—THE COPSE BEHIND
14. A TURNPIKE ROAD
15. AN INNER ROOM AT THE LODGE
16. A LARGE PUBLIC HALL
17. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE
18. NEAR SANDBOURNE—LONDON STREETS—ETHELBERTA’S
19. ETHELBERTA’S DRAWING-ROOM
20. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE HALL—THE ROAD HOME
21. A STREET—NEIGH’S ROOMS—CHRISTOPHER’SROOMS
22. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE
23. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE (continued)
24. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE (continued)—THE BRITISHMUSEUM
25. THE ROYAL ACADEMY—THE FARNFIELD ESTATE
26. ETHELBERTA’S DRAWING-ROOM
27. MRS. BELMAINE’S—CRIPPLEGATE CHURCH
28. ETHELBERTA’S—MR. CHICKEREL’S ROOM
29. ETHELBERTA’S DRESSING-ROOM—MR. DONCASTLE’SHOUSE
30. ON THE HOUSETOP
31. KNOLLSEA—A LOFTY DOWN—A RUINED CASTLE
32. A ROOM IN ENCKWORTH COURT
33. THE ENGLISH CHANNEL—NORMANDY
34. THE HÔTEL BEAU SÉJOUR, AND SPOTS NEAR IT
35. THE HOTEL (continued), AND THE QUAY IN FRONT
36. THE HOUSE IN TOWN
37. KNOLLSEA—AN ORNAMENTAL VILLA
38. ENCKWORTH COURT
39. KNOLLSEA—MELCHESTER
40. MELCHESTER (continued)
41. WORKSHOPS—AN INN—THE STREET
42. THE DONCASTLES’ RESIDENCE, AND OUTSIDE THE SAME
43. THE RAILWAY—THE SEA—THE SHORE BEYOND
44. SANDBOURNE—A LONELY HEATH—THE ‘RED LION’—THEHIGHWAY
45. KNOLLSEA—THE ROAD THENCE—ENCKWORTH
46. ENCKWORTH (continued