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What shall I say in this Preface to my book? Shall I make the usual half-sincere, half-affected apology of haste and inexperience, with hints of improvement in future efforts? Indeed I cannot, for though this volume really is the first novel ever printed in book form under my name, its imperfections, whatever they are, arise from no inexperience or undue haste, but from absolute lack of power to accomplish that which I have undertaken. Nor is it probable that the points in which I have failed here, would be very greatly improved were the same book to be written again.

I have endeavored to make this book a good one. If I have failed it is because the power has not been granted to me by the Source of all power, and for deficiency like this, the only admissible apology would be for having written at all. But excuses are out of place here. The book, with all its faults, is frankly surrendered to the public judgment, asking neither favoritism or forbearance, save that favoritism which deals gently with unintentional error, and that forbearance which no American ever withholds from a woman. Shall I say that this volume is launched on the world with fear and trembling? That would express an ungrateful want of faith in a class of readers who have generously sustained me through years of literary toil, and have nobly supported not only Peterson's Ladies' National Magazine now under my charge, but every periodical with which I have been connected. It would be ungrateful to the press that, without a single respectable exception, has always dealt generously by me, and would betray a weakness of character which I am not willing to acknowledge, for I have lived long enough to tremble at nothing which results from an honest intention, and to fear nothing but deserved disgrace—the death of beloved objects—or change in those affections that no literary fame or misfortune can ever reach.

But it is not without emotions that I present this book to the public, grateful and sweet emotions that liberal minds must respect more than a thousand insincere apologies. The thoughts of an author are the perfume of her own soul going forth on the winds of heaven to awaken other souls and renew itself in their kindred sympathies. I am more anxious for the effect which these thoughts, so long a portion of my own being, will have upon others, than for the return they may bring to myself. The American people are, in the mass, just and intelligent judges; always generous and perhaps over-indulgent to their authors. In writing this book I have endeavored to deserve their approbation and to cast no discredit upon a profession that I honor more than any other upon the broad earth. If I have succeeded, no human being can be more grateful than I shall be for the public opinion that assures me of it; but, to satisfy even my humble ambition, it must be an opinion honestly earned and frankly given. Popularity won without merit, and lost without blame, would be valueless to me, even while it lasted.

New York, May 22, 1854.

CHAPTER	PAGE
I.	The Strawberry Girl and Market Woman	9
II.	The Old Couple in the Back Basement	26
III.	The Lone Mansion and its Mistress	43
IV.	The Astor House—the Ride—the Attic Room	54
V.	Mistress and Servant in Consultation	72
VI.	The Tempter and the Tempted—the young heart yields	81
VII.	The Old Homestead and Home Memories	89
VIII.	The City Cottage and its Strange Inmate	110
IX.	Mrs. Gray's Thanksgiving Dinner—Julia and Robert	126
X.	The Brother's Return—Questions and Answers	141
XI.	The Mother's Letter and the Son's Commentary	158
XII.	Strife for an Earl—Mrs. Sykes and Mrs. Nash	163
XIII.	The Morning Lesson—Doubt—Sympathy—Misery	179
XIV.	A Wedding Foreshadowed—Sunshine of the Heart	187
XV.	The Mother's Appeal—the Son's Falsehood	194
XVI.	The Bridal Wreath—Roses and Cypress	211
XVII.	An Hour before the Ball—Strides of Destiny	222
XVIII.	The Forged Check—Uncle and Nephew	228
XIX.	Night and Morning—Wild Heart Strife	234
XX.	The Last Interview—Parting—Death	251
XXI.	The City Prison—Examination for Murder	266
XXII.	The Imprisoned Witness in the Female Ward	282
XXIII.	The Three Old Women in Fulton Market	299
XXIV.	The First Night in Prison—Prayers—Tears—Dreams	311
XXV.	Little Georgie—his Mother and Julia Warren	319
XXVI.	Mrs. Gray and the Prison Woman	330
XXVII.	Struggles and Revels—Unquenched Anguish	338
XXVIII.	Ada Leicester and Jacob Strong	344
XXIX.	Ada's Solitary Breakfast—Desolation of Heart	350
XXX.	The Prison Woman in Ada's Dressing-Room	354
XXXI.	The Tombs Lawyer and his Client Mrs. Gray	366
XXXII.	The Lawyer's Visit to his Client	372
XXXIII.	The Trial for Murder—Opening Scenes	380
XXXIV.	The Two Witnesses—Recognition too Late	388
XXXV.	The Verdict—Stillness—Death-Shadows	399
XXXVI.	The Parents, the Child and Grandchild	405
XXXVII.	The Dawning of Light—Angelic Missions	412
XXXVIII.	Gathering for the Execution	414
XXXIX.	Hearts and Consciences at Rest	422