The Claverings

The Claverings

By Anthony Trollope.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. I: Julia Brabazon
4. II: Harry Clavering Chooses His Profession
5. III: Lord Ongar
6. IV: Florence Burton
7. V: Lady Ongar’s Return
8. VI: The Rev. Samuel Saul
9. VII: Some Scenes in the Life of a Countess
10. VIII: The House in Onslow Crescent
11. IX: Too Prudent by Half
12. X: Florence Burton at the Rectory
13. XI: Sir Hugh and His Brother Archie
14. XII: Lady Ongar Takes Possession
15. XIII: A Visitor Calls at Ongar Park
16. XIV: Count Pateroff and His Sister
17. XV: An Evening in Bolton Street
18. XVI: The Rivals
19. XVII: “Let Her Know That You’re There”
20. XVIII: Captain Clavering Makes His First Attempt
21. XIX: The Blue Posts
22. XX: Desolation
23. XXI: Yes; Wrong;—Certainly Wrong
24. XXII: The Day of the Funeral
25. XXIII: Cumberly Lane Without the Mud
26. XXIV: The Russian Spy
27. XXV: “What Would Men Say of You?”
28. XXVI: The Man Who Dusted His Boots with His Handkerchief
29. XXVII: Freshwater Gate
30. XXVIII: What Cecilia Burton Did for Her Sister-in-Law
31. XXIX: How Damon Parted from Pythias
32. XXX: Doodles in Mount Street
33. XXXI: Harry Clavering’s Confession
34. XXXII: Florence Burton Packs Up a Packet
35. XXXIII: Showing Why Harry Clavering Was Wanted at the Rectory
36. XXXIV: Mr. Saul’s Abode
37. XXXV: Parting
38. XXXVI: Captain Clavering Makes His Last Attempt
39. XXXVII: What Lady Ongar Thought About It
40. XXXVIII: How to Dispose of a Wife
41. XXXIX: Farewell to Doodles
42. XL: Showing How Mrs. Burton Fought Her Battle
43. XLI: The Sheep Returns to the Fold
44. XLII: Restitution
45. XLIII: Lady Ongar’s Revenge
46. XLIV: Showing What Happened Off Heligoland
47. XLV: Is She Mad?
48. XLVI: Madame Gordeloup Retires from British Diplomacy
49. XLVII: Showing How Things Settled Themselves at the Rectory
50. XLVIII: Conclusion
51. Colophon
52. Uncopyright

Imprint

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I

Julia Brabazon

The gardens of Clavering Park were removed some three hundred yards from the large, square, sombre-looking stone mansion which was the country-house of Sir Hugh Clavering, the eleventh baronet of that name; and in these gardens, which had but little of beauty to recommend them, I will introduce my readers to two of the personages with whom I wish to make them acquainted in the following story. It was now the end of August, and the parterres, beds, and bits of lawn were dry, disfigured, and almost ugly, from the effects of a long drought. In gardens to which care and labour are given abundantly, flowerbeds will be pretty, and grass will be green, let the weather be what it may; but care and labour were but scantily bestowed on the Clavering Gardens, and everything was yellow, adust, harsh, and dry. Over the burnt turf towards a gate that led to the house, a lady was walking, and by her side there walked a gentleman.

“You are going in, then, Miss Brabazon,” said the gentleman, and it was very manifest from his tone that he intended to convey some deep reproach in his words.

“Of course I am going in,” said the lady. “You asked me to walk with you, and I refused. You have now waylaid me, and therefore I shall escape⁠—unless I am prevented by violence.” As she spoke she stood still for a moment, and looked into his face with a smile which seemed to indicate that if such violence were used, within rational bounds, she would not feel herself driven to great anger.

But though she might be inclined to be playful, he was by no means in that mood. “And why did you refuse me when I asked you?” said he.

“For two reasons, partly because I thought it better to avoid any conversation with you.”

“That is civil to an old friend.”

“But chiefly,”⁠—and now as she spoke she drew herself up, and dismissed the smile from her face, and allowed her eyes to fall upon the ground;⁠—“but chiefly because I thought that Lord Ongar would prefer that I should not roam alone about Clavering Park with any young gentleman while I am down here; and that he might specially object to my roaming with you, were he to know that you and I were⁠—old acquaintances. Now I have been very frank, Mr. Clavering, and I think that that ought to be enough.”

“You are afraid of him already, then?”

“I am afraid of offending anyone whom I love, and especially anyone to whom I owe any duty.”

“Enough! Indeed it is not. From what you know of me do you think it likely that that will be enough?” He was now standing in front of her,