Agnes Grey A NOVEL, by ACTON BELL. LONDON: THOMAS CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHER, 72, MORTIMER ST., CAVENDISH SQ. 1847. [Illustration: Birthplace of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, Thornton] Contents I. THE PARSONAGE II. FIRST LESSONS IN THE ART OF INSTRUCTION III. A FEW MORE LESSONS IV. THE GRANDMAMMA V. THE UNCLE VI. THE PARSONAGE AGAIN VII. HORTON LODGE VIII. THE “COMING OUT” IX. THE BALL X. THE CHURCH XI. THE COTTAGERS XII. THE SHOWER XIII. THE PRIMROSES XIV. THE RECTOR XV. THE WALK XVI. THE SUBSTITUTION XVII. CONFESSIONS XVIII. MIRTH AND MOURNING XIX. THE LETTER XX. THE FAREWELL XXI. THE SCHOOL XXII. THE VISIT XXIII. THE PARK XXIV. THE SANDS XXV. CONCLUSION CHAPTER I. THE PARSONAGE All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity, that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut. Whether this be the case with my history or not, I am hardly competent to judge. I sometimes think it might prove useful to some, and entertaining to others; but the world may judge for itself. Shielded by my own obscurity, and by the lapse of years, and a few fictitious names, I do not fear to venture; and will candidly lay before the public what I would not disclose to the most intimate friend. My father was a clergyman of the north of England, who was deservedly respected by all who knew him; and, in his younger days, lived pretty comfortably on the joint income of a small incumbency and a snug little property of his own. My mother, who married him against the wishes of her friends, was a squire’s daughter, and a woman of spirit. In vain it was represented to her, that if she became the poor parson’s wife, she must relinquish her carriage and her lady’s-maid, and all the luxuries and elegancies of affluence; which to her were little less than the necessaries of life. A carriage and a lady’s-maid were great conveniences; but, thank heaven, she had feet to carry her, and hands to minister to her own necessities. An elegant house and spacious grounds were not to be despised; but she would rather live in a cottage with Richard Grey than in a palace with any other man in the world.