HESTER A STORY OF CONTEMPORARY LIFE BY MRS. OLIPHANT "A springy motion in her gait, A rising step, did indicate Of pride and joy no common rate That flush'd her spirit: I know not by what name beside I shall it call: if 'twas not pride, It was a joy to that allied She did inherit. * * * * * She was trained in Nature's school, Nature had blest her. A waking eye, a prying mind, A heart that stirs, is hard to bind: A hawk's keen sight ye cannot blind, Ye could not Hester." Charles Lamb. IN THREE VOLUMES VOL. III London MACMILLAN AND CO. 1883 The Right of Translation and Reproduction is Reserved LONDON R. Clay, Sons, and Taylor, BREAD STREET HILL. Table of Contents CHAPTER I. BUSINESS AND LOVE. CHAPTER II. A SPECULATOR. CHAPTER III. A LATE VISITOR. CHAPTER IV. DOUBTS AND FEARS. CHAPTER V. A DISCOVERY. CHAPTER VI. IN THE LABYRINTH. CHAPTER VII. ALARMS. CHAPTER VIII. THE CRISIS. CHAPTER IX. UNDER THE HOLLY. CHAPTER X. THE HOUR OF NEED. CHAPTER XI. A NIGHT'S VIGIL. CHAPTER XII. AFTERWARDS. CHAPTER XIII. AN INTERRUPTION. CHAPTER XIV. THE SETTLEMENT. CHAPTER XV. THE END. HESTER. HESTER. CHAPTER I. BUSINESS AND LOVE. Roland had but a few days to spend at Redborough, where he came on the footing of an intimate friend and relation, sought and courted on all hands. His time was already portioned out among the Vernons before he came to pay his respects to Mrs. John and her daughter, though that was on the morning after his arrival. At a still earlier hour Emma had rushed in very tearful and dejected to beg Hester to intercede for her that she might not go away.