LORD ORMONT AND HIS AMINTA, COMPLETE

By George Meredith

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.   LOVE AT A SCHOOL

CHAPTER II.   LADY CHARLOTTE

CHAPTER III.   THE TUTOR

CHAPTER IV.   RECOGNITION

CHAPTER V.   IN WHICH THE SHADES OF BROWNY AND MATEY ADVANCE AND RETIRE

CHAPTER VI.   IN A MOOD OF LANGUOR

CHAPTER VII.   EXHIBITS EFFECTS OF A PRATTLER'S DOSES

CHAPTER VIII.   MRS. LAWRENCE FINCHLEY

CHAPTER IX.   A FLASH OF THE BRUISED WARRIOR

CHAPTER X.   A SHORT PASSAGE IN THE GAME PLAYED BY TWO

CHAPTER XI.   THE SECRETARY TAKEN AS AN ANTIDOTE

CHAPTER XII.   MORE OF CUPER'S BOYS

CHAPTER XIII.   WAR AT OLMER

CHAPTER XIV.   OLD LOVERS NEW FRIENDS

CHAPTER XV.   SHOWING A SECRET FISHED WITHOUT ANGLING

CHAPTER XVI.   ALONG TWO ROADS TO STEIGNTON

CHAPTER XVII.   LADY CHARLOTTE'S TRIUMPH

CHAPTER XVIII.   A SCENE ON THE ROAD BACK

CHAPTER XIX.   THE PURSUERS

CHAPTER XX.   AT THE SIGN OF THE JOLLY CRICKETERS

CHAPTER XXI.   UNDER-CURRENTS IN THE MINDS OF LADY CHARLOTTE AND LORD ORMONT

CHAPTER XXII.   TREATS OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONTENTION OF BROTHER AND SISTER

CHAPTER XXIII.   THE ORMONT JEWELS

CHAPTER XXIV.   LOVERS MATED

CHAPTER XXV.   PREPARATIONS FOR A RESOLVE

CHAPTER XXVI.   VISITS OF FAREWELL

CHAPTER XXVII.   A MARINE DUET

CHAPTER XXVIII.      THE PLIGHTING

CHAPTER XXIX.   AMINTA TO HER LORD

CHAPTER XXX.   CONCLUSION

CHAPTER I. LOVE AT A SCHOOL

A procession of schoolboys having to meet a procession of schoolgirls on the Sunday's dead march, called a walk, round the park, could hardly go by without dropping to a hum in its chatter, and the shot of incurious half-eyes the petticoated creatures—all so much of a swarm unless you stare at them like lanterns. The boys cast glance because it relieved their heaviness; things were lumpish and gloomy that day of the week. The girls, who sped their peep of inquisition before the moment of transit, let it be seen that they had minds occupied with thoughts of their own.

Our gallant fellows forgot the intrusion of the foreign as soon as it had passed. A sarcastic discharge was jerked by chance at the usher and the governess—at the old game, it seemed; or why did they keep steering columns to meet? There was no fun in meeting; it would never be happening every other Sunday, and oftener, by sheer toss-penny accident. They were moved like pieces for the pleasure of these two.

Sometimes the meeting occurred twice during the stupid march-out, when it became so nearly vexatious to boys almost biliously oppressed by the tedium of a day merely allowing them to shove the legs along, ironically naming it animal excise, that some among them pronounced the sham variation of monotony to be a bothering nuisance if it was going to happen every Sunday, though Sunday required diversions. They hated the absurdity in this meeting and meeting; for they were obliged to anticipate it, as a part of their ignominious weekly performance; and they could not avoid reflecting on it, as a thing