The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Novels, by Wilkie Collins
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Title: Little Novels
Author: Wilkie Collins
Release Date: October 15, 2008 [EBook #1630]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE NOVELS ***
Produced by James Rusk, and David Widger
LITTLE NOVELS
By Wilkie Collins
Contents
MRS. ZANT AND THE GHOST.
MISS MORRIS AND THE STRANGER.
MR. COSWAY AND THE LANDLADY.
MR. MEDHURST AND THE PRINCESS.
MR. LISMORE AND THE WIDOW.
MISS JEROMETTE AND THE CLERGYMAN.
MISS MINA AND THE GROOM
MR. LEPEL AND THE HOUSEKEEPER
MR. CAPTAIN AND THE NYMPH.
MR. MARMADUKE AND THE MINISTER.
MR. PERCY AND THE PROPHET.
PART 1.—THE PREDICTION.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
PART II.—THE FULFILLMENT.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
MISS BERTHA AND THE YANKEE.
MISS DULANE AND MY LORD.
Part I.
Part II
Part III.
Part IV.
MR. POLICEMAN AND THE COOK.
MRS. ZANT AND THE GHOST.
I.
THE course of this narrative describes the return of a disembodied spirit to earth, and leads the reader on new and strange ground.
Not in the obscurity of midnight, but in the searching light of day, did the supernatural influence assert itself. Neither revealed by a vision, nor announced by a voice, it reached mortal knowledge through the sense which is least easily self-deceived: the sense that feels.
The record of this event will of necessity produce conflicting impressions. It will raise, in some minds, the doubt which reason asserts; it will invigorate, in other minds, the hope which faith justifies; and it will leave the terrible question of the destinies of man, where centuries of vain investigation have left it—in the dark.
Having only undertaken in the present narrative to lead the way along a succession of events, the writer declines to follow modern examples by thrusting himself and his opinions on the public view. He returns to the shadow from which he has emerged, and leaves the opposing forces of incredulity and belief to fight the old battle over again, on the old ground.
