That Boy Of Norcott's

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Lever Charles James. That Boy Of Norcott's

CHAPTER I. THE TRIAL

CHAPTER II. WITH MY MOTHER

CHAPTER III. WITH MY FATHER

CHAPTER IV. THE VILLA MALIBRAN

CHAPTER V. A FIRST DINNER-PARTY

CHAPTER VI. HOW THE DAYS WENT OYER

CHAPTER VII. A PRIVATE AUDIENCE

CHAPTER VIII. A DARK-ROOM PICTURE

CHAPTER IX. MADAME CLEREMONT

CHAPTER X. PLANNING PLEASURE

CHAPTER XI. A BIRTHDAY DINNER

CHAPTER XII. THE BALL

CHAPTER XIII. A NEXT MORNING

CHAPTER XIV. A GOOD-BYE

CHAPTER XV. A TERRIBLE SHOCK

CHAPTER XVI. FIUME

CHAPTER XVII. HANSERL OF THE YARD

CHAPTER XVIII. THE SAIL ACROSS THE BAY

CHAPTER XIX. AT THE FÊTE

CHAPTER XX. OUR INNER LIFE

CHAPTER XXI. THE OFFICE

CHAPTER XXII. UNWISHED-FOR PROMOTION

CHAPTER XXIII. THE MAN WHO TRAVELLED FOR OUR HOUSE

CHAPTER XXIV. MY INSTRUCTIONS

CHAPTER XXV. “ON THE ROAD” IN CROATIA

CHAPTER XXVI. IN HUNGARY

CHAPTER XXVII. SCHLOSS HUNYADI

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE SALON

CHAPTER XXIX. AN UNLOOKED-FOR MEETING

CHAPTER XXX. HASTY TIDINGS

CHAPTER XXXI. IN SORROW

CHAPTER XXXII. THE END

Отрывок из книги

Some years ago there was a trial in Dublin, which, partly because the parties in the cause were in a well-to-do condition of life, and partly because the case in some measure involved the interests of the two conflicting Churches, excited considerable sensation and much comment.

The contention was the right to the guardianship of a boy whose father and mother had ceased to live together. On their separation they had come to a sort of amicable arrangement that the child – then seven years old – should live alternate years with each; and though the mother’s friends warmly urged her not to consent to a plan so full of danger to her child, and so certain to result in the worst effects on his character, the poor woman, whose rank in life was far inferior to her husband’s, yielded, partly from habit of deference to his wishes, and more still because she believed, in refusing these terms, she might have found herself reduced to accept even worse ones. The marriage had been unfortunate in every way. Sir Roger Norcott had accompanied his regiment, the – th Dragoons, to Ireland, where some violent disturbances in the south had called for an increase of military force. When the riots had been suppressed, the troops, broken up into small detachments, were quartered through the counties, as opportunity and convenience served; Norcott s troop – for he was a captain – being stationed in that very miserable and poverty-stricken town called Macroom. Here the dashing soldier, who for years had been a Guardsman, mixing in all the gayeties of a London life, passed days and weeks of dreary despondency. His two subs, who happened to be sons of men in trade, he treated with a cold and distant politeness, but never entered into their projects, nor accepted their companionship; and though they messed together each day, no other intimacy passed between them than the courtesies of the table.

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“All right,” said I, opening the caddy, and proceeding to make myself at home at once. “What is here?”

“Devilled kidneys, sir; and this is fried mackerel. Mr. Eccles takes oysters; but he won’t have them opened till he’s down. Here he is, sir.”

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