E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. RACHEL RAY A Novel. by ANTHONY TROLLOPE, Author of "Barchester Towers," "Castle Richmond," "Orley Farm," Etc. In Two Volumes. VOL. I. London: Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. 1863. [The right of Translation is reserved.] London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street and Charing Cross. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE RAY FAMILY. CHAPTER II. THE YOUNG MAN FROM THE BREWERY. CHAPTER III. THE ARM IN THE CLOUDS. CHAPTER IV. WHAT SHALL BE DONE ABOUT IT? CHAPTER V. MR. COMFORT GIVES HIS ADVICE. CHAPTER VI. PREPARATIONS FOR MRS. TAPPITT'S PARTY. CHAPTER VII. AN ACCOUNT OF MRS. TAPPITT'S BALL--COMMENCED. CHAPTER VIII. AN ACCOUNT OF MRS. TAPPITT'S BALL--CONCLUDED. CHAPTER IX. MR. PRONG AT HOME. CHAPTER X. LUKE ROWAN DECLARES HIS PLANS AS TO THE BREWERY. CHAPTER XI. LUKE ROWAN TAKES HIS TEA QUITE LIKE A STEADY YOUNG MAN. CHAPTER XII. MR. TAPPITT IN HIS COUNTING-HOUSE. CHAPTER XIII. RACHEL RAY THINKS "SHE DOES LIKE HIM." CHAPTER XIV. LUKE ROWAN PAYS A SECOND VISIT TO BRAGG'S END. CHAPTER XV. MATERNAL ELOQUENCE. RACHEL RAY. CHAPTER I. THE RAY FAMILY. There are women who cannot grow alone as standard trees;--for whom the support and warmth of some wall, some paling, some post, is absolutely necessary;--who, in their growth, will bend and incline themselves towards some such prop for their life, creeping with their tendrils along the ground till they reach it when the circumstances of life have brought no such prop within their natural and immediate reach. Of most women it may be said that it would be well for them that they should marry,--as indeed of most men also, seeing that man and wife will each lend the other strength, and yet in lending lose none; but to the women of whom I now speak some kind of marriage is quite indispensable, and by them some kind of marriage is always made, though the union is often unnatural. A woman in want of a wall against which to nail herself will swear conjugal obedience sometimes to her cook, sometimes to her grandchild, sometimes to her lawyer. Any standing corner, post, or stump, strong enough to bear her weight will suffice; but to some standing corner, post, or stump, she will find her way and attach herself, and there will she be married.