Preface

Produced by Stan Goodman, Thomas Berger and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team.

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 MARK WYLDER'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, SMOKE OUR NOCTURNAL CIGARS

XII.—IN WHICH UNCLE LORNE TROUBLES ME

XIII.—THE PONY CARRIAGE

XIV.—IN WHICH VARIOUS PERSONS GIVE THEIR OPINIONS OF CAPTAIN STANLEY LAKE

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 BUDDLE CALLS 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 THE TAPESTRY 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.