"No Name" is a 19th-century novel revolving around the issue of illegitimacy. The story begins in 1846, at Combe-Raven in West Somerset, the country residence of the happy Vanstone family. In the first scene, the reader is introduced to Mr. Andrew Vanstone, Mrs. Vanstone, and their two daughters Norah, age 26, happy and quiet, and the irrepressible Magdalen, just 18, beautiful but with a steely jaw. They live in peace and contentment, looked after by their governess, Miss Garth. Magdalen likes nothing better than to read at her window while her personal maid combs through and through her long hair. Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. His best-known works are The Woman in White, No Name, Armadale, and The Moonstone.
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Уилки Коллинз. No Name (A Thriller)
No Name (A Thriller)
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Table of Contents
Preface
The First Scene. COMBE-RAVEN, SOMERSETSHIRE
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Chapter XV
Between the Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Second Scene. SKELDERGATE, YORK
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Between The Scenes. CHRONICLE OF EVENTS: PRESERVED IN CAPTAIN WRAGGE’S DISPATCH-BOX
The Third Scene. VAUXHALL WALK, LAMBETH
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Between The Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Fourth Scene. ALDBOROUGH, SUFFOLK
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Chapter XIV
Between The Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Fifth Scene. BALIOL COTTAGE, DUMFRIES
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Between The Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Sixth Scene. ST. JOHN’S WOOD
Chapter I
Chapter II
Between The Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Seventh Scene. ST. CRUX-IN-THE-MARSH
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Between The Scenes. PROGRESS OF THE STORY THROUGH THE POST
The Last Scene. AARON’S BUILDINGS
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
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Wilkie Collins
The First Scene. COMBE-RAVEN, SOMERSETSHIRE
.....
When the drop-scene descended for the first time, Magdalen had concentrated in herself the whole interest and attraction of the play. The audience politely applauded Miss Marrable, as became the guests assembled in her father’s house: and good-humoredly encouraged the remainder of the company, to help them through a task for which they were all, more or less, palpably unfit. But, as the play proceeded, nothing roused them to any genuine expression of interest when Magdalen was absent from the scene. There was no disguising it: Miss Marrable and her bosom friends had been all hopelessly cast in the shade by the new recruit whom they had summoned to assist them, in the capacity of forlorn hope. And this on Miss Marrable’s own birthday! and this in her father’s house! and this after the unutterable sacrifices of six weeks past! Of all the domestic disasters which the thankless theatrical enterprise had inflicted on the Marrable family, the crowning misfortune was now consummated by Magdalen’s success.
Leaving Mr. Vanstone and Norah, on the conclusion of the play, among the guests in the supper-room, Miss Garth went behind the scenes; ostensibly anxious to see if she could be of any use; really bent on ascertaining whether Magdalen’s head had been turned by the triumphs of the evening. It would not have surprised Miss Garth if she had discovered her pupil in the act of making terms with the manager for her forthcoming appearance in a public theater. As events really turned out, she found Magdalen on the stage, receiving, with gracious smiles, a card which the manager presented to her with a professional bow. Noticing Miss Garth’s mute look of inquiry, the civil little man hastened to explain that the card was his own, and that he was merely asking the favor of Miss Vanstone’s recommendation at any future opportunity.
