Wylder's Hand Read online

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  WYLDER'S HAND

  A NOVEL

  by

  J. SHERIDAN LE FANU

  First published 1864

  CONTENTS

  CHAP.

  I.--RELATING HOW I RODE THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF GYLINGDEN WITH MARKWYLDER'S LETTER IN MY VALISE

  II.--IN WHICH I ENTER THE DRAWING-ROOM

  III.--OUR DINNER-PARTY AT BRANDON

  IV.--IN WHICH WE GO TO THE DRAWING-ROOM AND THE PARTY BREAKS UP

  V.--IN WHICH MY SLUMBER IS DISTURBED

  VI.--IN WHICH DORCAS BRANDON SPEAKS

  VII.--RELATING HOW A LONDON GENTLEMAN APPEARED IN REDMAN'S DELL

  VIII.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE TAKES HIS HAT AND STICK

  IX.--I SEE THE RING OF THE PERSIAN MAGICIAN

  X.--THE ACE OF HEARTS

  XI.--IN WHICH LAKE UNDER THE TREES OF BRANDON, AND I IN MY CHAMBER, SMOKEOUR NOCTURNAL CIGARS

  XII.--IN WHICH UNCLE LORNE TROUBLES ME

  XIII.--THE PONY CARRIAGE

  XIV.--IN WHICH VARIOUS PERSONS GIVE THEIR OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN STANLEYLAKE

  XV.--DORCAS SHOWS HER JEWELS TO MISS LAKE

  XVI.--"JENNY PUT THE KETTLE ON"

  XVII.--RACHEL LAKE SEES WONDERFUL THINGS BY MOONLIGHT FROM HER WINDOW

  XVIII.--MARK WYLDER'S SLAVE

  XIX.--THE TARN IN THE PARK

  XX.--CAPTAIN LAKE TAKES AN EVENING STROLL ABOUT GYLINGDEN

  XXI.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE VISITS HIS SISTER'S SICK BED

  XXII.--IN WHICH CAPTAIN LAKE MEETS A FRIEND NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE

  XXIII.--HOW RACHEL SLEPT THAT NIGHT IN REDMAN'S FARM

  XXIV.--DORCAS BRANDON PAYS RACHEL A VISIT

  XXV.--CAPTAIN LAKE LOOKS IN AT NIGHTFALL

  XXVI.--CAPTAIN LAKE FOLLOWS TO LONDON

  XXVII.--LAWYER LARKIN'S MIND BEGINS TO WORK

  XXVIII.--MARK WYLDER'S SUBMISSION

  XXIX.--HOW MARK WYLDER'S DISAPPEARANCE AFFECTED HIS FRIENDS

  XXX.--IN BRANDON PARK

  XXXI.--IN REDMAN'S DELL

  XXXII.--MR. LARKIN AND THE VICAR

  XXXIII.--THE LADIES OF GYLINGDEN HEATH

  XXXIV.--SIR JULIUS HOCKLEY'S LETTER

  XXXV.--THE HUNT BALL

  XXXVI.--THE BALL ROOM

  XXXVII.--THE SUPPER-ROOM

  XXXVIII.--AFTER THE BALL

  XXXIX.--IN WHICH MISS RACHEL LAKE COMES TO BRANDON, AND DOCTOR BUDDLECALLS AGAIN

  XL.--THE ATTORNEY'S ADVENTURES ON THE WAY HOME

  XLI.--IN WHICH SIR FRANCIS SEDDLEY MANIPULATES

  XLII.--A PARAGRAPH IN THE COUNTY PAPER

  XLIII.--AN EVIL EYE LOOKS ON THE VICAR

  XLIV.--IN WHICH OLD TAMAR LIFTS UP HER VOICE IN PROPHECY

  XLV.--DEEP AND SHALLOW

  XLVI.--DEBATE AND INTERRUPTION

  XLVII.--A THREATENING NOTICE

  XLVIII.--IN WHICH I GO TO BRANDON, AND SEE AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE IN THETAPESTRY ROOM

  XLIX.--LARCOM, THE BUTLER, VISITS THE ATTORNEY

  L.--NEW LIGHTS

  LI.--A FRACAS IN THE LIBRARY

  LII.--AN OLD FRIEND LOOKS INTO THE GARDEN AT REDMAN'S FARM

  LIII.--THE VICAR'S COMPLICATIONS, WHICH LIVELY PEOPLE HAD BETTER NOT READ

  LIV.--BRANDON CHAPEL ON SUNDAY

  LV.--THE CAPTAIN AND THE ATTORNEY CONVERSE AMONG THE TOMBS

  LVI.--THE BRANDON CONSERVATORY

  LVII.--CONCERNING A NEW DANGER WHICH THREATENED CAPTAIN STANLEY LAKE

  LVIII.--MISS RACHEL LAKE BECOMES VIOLENT

  LIX.--AN ENEMY IN REDMAN'S DELL

  LX.--RACHEL LAKE BEFORE THE ACCUSER

  LXI.--IN WHICH DAME DUTTON IS VISITED

  LXII.--THE CAPTAIN EXPLAINS WHY MARK WYLDER ABSCONDED

  LXIII.--THE ACE OF HEARTS

  LXIV.--IN THE DUTCH ROOM

  LXV.--I REVISIT BRANDON HALL

  LXVI.--LADY MACBETH

  LXVII.--MR. LARKIN IS VIS-A-VIS WITH A CONCEALED COMPANION

  LXVIII.--THE COMPANION DISCLOSES HIMSELF

  LXIX.--OF A SPECTRE WHOM OLD TAMAR SAW

  LXX.--THE MEETING IN THE LONG POND ALLEY

  LXXI.--SIR HARRY BRACTON'S INVASION OF GYLINGDEN

  LXXII.--MARK WYLDER'S HAND

  LXXIII.--THE MASK FALLS

  LXXIV.--WE TAKE LEAVE OF OUR FRIENDS

  WYLDER'S HAND.