Every attempt has been made to replicate the original as printed. Some typographical errors have been corrected;a list follows the text. Contents: Preface (etext transcriber's note) |
THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR
BY
THE AUTHOR OF
“MARGARET MAITLAND,” “ADAM GRAEME,”
“THE LAIRD OF NORLAW,”
&c., &c.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS,
SUCCESSORS TO HENRY COLBURN,
13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.
1861.
The right of Translation is reserved.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY R. BORN, GLOUCESTER STREET,
REGENT’S PARK.
PREFACE.
THIS book was overshadowed and interrupted by the heaviest grief. Theauthor says so, not to deprecate criticism, but to crave the tenderforbearance of her unknown friends.
THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR.
CHAPTER I.
IN a gloomy room, looking out through one narrow window upon a moor, twoyoung people together, and yet alone, consumed the dreary hours of aFebruary afternoon. The scene within doors exhibited scarcely lessmonotony and dreariness than did the moor without, which stretched blackand heavy to the hills under a leaden sky. The room was well-sized, andlighted only by that one window, which was deeply sunk in the deep wall,and hung with terrible curtains of red moreen, enough to kill whatlittle amount of light there was. A large dining-table, of cold,well-polished mahogany, occupied the centre of the apartment—anold-fashioned sideboard and mysterious bureau of the same characterstood out darkly from the walls—and hard, angular chairs furnishedforth the dining-room, as it was called—but which was, indeed,drawing-room, study, boudoir, everything to the brother and sister