ALICE LORRAINE: _A TALE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS_. BY RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE, AUTHOR OF “THE MAID OF SKER,” “LORNA DOONE,” ETC. οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα, εἴτ’ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ’ ἐσθλῶν κακή. SOPH. _Ant._ _NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION._ LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY, _LIMITED_, St. Dunstan’s House, FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C. 1893. LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS. To PROFESSOR OWEN, C.B., F.R.S., &c., WITH THE WRITER’S GRATITUDE, FOR WORDS OF TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT, AND MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS, This Work MOST HEARTILY IS DEDICATED _April, 1875._ CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I.--ALL IN THE DOWNS 1 II.--COOMBE LORRAINE 3 III.--LINEAGE AND LINEAMENTS 5 IV.--FATHER AND FAVOURITE 7 V.--THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER 11 VI.--THE LEGEND CONTINUED 14 VII.--THE LEGEND CONCLUDED 17 VIII.--ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST 20 IX.--THE LEGACY OF THE ASTROLOGER 24 X.--A BOY AND A DONKEY 27 XI.--CHAMBER PRACTICE 35 XII.--WITH THE COSTERMONGERS 45 XIII.--TO THE CHERRY-ORCHARDS 49 XIV.--BEAUTIES OF THE COUNTRY 55 XV.--OH, RUDDIER THAN THE CHERRY! 59 XVI.--OH, SWEETER THAN THE BERRY! 66 XVII.--VERY SHY THINGS 72 XVIII.--THE KEY OF THE GATE 78 XIX.--FOUR YOUNG LADIES 84 XX.--A RECTOR OF THE OLDEN STYLE 92 XXI.--A NOTABLE LADY 96 XXII.--A MALIGNANT CASE 100 XXIII.--THE BAITER BAITED 105 XXIV.--A FATHERLY SUGGESTION 109 XXV.--THE WELL OF THE SIBYL 112 XXVI.--AN OPPORTUNE ENVOY 117 XXVII.--A GOOD PARSON’S HOLIDAY 121 XXVIII.--NOT TO BE RESISTED 126 XXIX.--ABSURD SURDS 130 XXX.--OUR LAD STEENIE 135