The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters

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Thomas Hardy. The Hand of Ethelberta: A Comedy in Chapters

PREFACE

1. A STREET IN ANGLEBURY – A HEATH NEAR IT – INSIDE THE ‘RED LION’ INN

2. CHRISTOPHER’S HOUSE – SANDBOURNE TOWN – SANDBOURNE MOOR

3. SANDBOURNE MOOR (continued)

4. SANDBOURNE PIER – ROAD TO WYNDWAY – BALL-ROOM IN WYNDWAY HOUSE

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’S ROOMS

22. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE

23. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE (continued)

24. ETHELBERTA’S HOUSE (continued) – THE BRITISH MUSEUM

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’S HOUSE

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’ – THE HIGHWAY

45. KNOLLSEA – THE ROAD THENCE – ENCKWORTH

46. ENCKWORTH (continued) – THE ANGLEBURY HIGHWAY

47. ENCKWORTH AND ITS PRECINCTS – MELCHESTER

SEQUEL. ANGLEBURY – ENCKWORTH – SANDBOURNE

Отрывок из книги

Young Mrs. Petherwin stepped from the door of an old and well-appointed inn in a Wessex town to take a country walk. By her look and carriage she appeared to belong to that gentle order of society which has no worldly sorrow except when its jewellery gets stolen; but, as a fact not generally known, her claim to distinction was rather one of brains than of blood. She was the daughter of a gentleman who lived in a large house not his own, and began life as a baby christened Ethelberta after an infant of title who does not come into the story at all, having merely furnished Ethelberta’s mother with a subject of contemplation. She became teacher in a school, was praised by examiners, admired by gentlemen, not admired by gentlewomen, was touched up with accomplishments by masters who were coaxed into painstaking by her many graces, and, entering a mansion as governess to the daughter thereof, was stealthily married by the son. He, a minor like herself, died from a chill caught during the wedding tour, and a few weeks later was followed into the grave by Sir Ralph Petherwin, his unforgiving father, who had bequeathed his wealth to his wife absolutely.

These calamities were a sufficient reason to Lady Petherwin for pardoning all concerned. She took by the hand the forlorn Ethelberta – who seemed rather a detached bride than a widow – and finished her education by placing her for two or three years in a boarding-school at Bonn. Latterly she had brought the girl to England to live under her roof as daughter and companion, the condition attached being that Ethelberta was never openly to recognize her relations, for reasons which will hereafter appear.

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‘Good-night,’ said Mr. Julian.

The moment, upon the very face of it, was critical; and yet it was one of those which have to wait for a future before they acquire a definite character as good or bad.

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