London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street and Charing Cross. * * * * * * RACHEL RAY A Novel. by ANTHONY TROLLOPE, Author of "Barchester Towers," "Castle Richmond," "Orley Farm," Etc. In Two Volumes. VOL. II. 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. RACHEL RAY'S FIRST LOVE-LETTER. CHAPTER II. ELECTIONEERING. CHAPTER III. DR. HARFORD. CHAPTER IV. MR. COMFORT CALLS AT THE COTTAGE. CHAPTER V. SHOWING WHAT RACHEL RAY THOUGHT WHEN SHE SAT ON THE STILE, AND HOW SHE WROTE HER LETTER AFTERWARDS. CHAPTER VI. MRS. RAY GOES TO EXETER, AND MEETS A FRIEND. CHAPTER VII. DOMESTIC POLITICS AT THE BREWERY. CHAPTER VIII. MRS. RAY'S PENITENCE. CHAPTER IX. THE ELECTION AT BASLEHURST. CHAPTER X. THE BASLEHURST GAZETTE. CHAPTER XI. CORNBURY GRANGE. CHAPTER XII. IN WHICH THE QUESTION OF THE BREWERY IS SETTLED. CHAPTER XIII. WHAT TOOK PLACE AT BRAGG'S END FARM. CHAPTER XIV. MRS. PRIME READS HER RECANTATION. CHAPTER XV. CONCLUSION. RACHEL RAY CHAPTER I. RACHEL RAY'S FIRST LOVE-LETTER. On the Monday evening, after tea, Mrs. Prime came out to the cottage. It was that Monday on which Mrs. Rowan and her daughter had left Baslehurst and had followed Luke up to London. She came out and sat with her mother and sister for about an hour, restraining herself with much discretion from the saying of disagreeable things about her sister's lover. She had heard that the Rowans had gone away, and she had also heard that it was probable that they would be no more seen in Baslehurst. Mr. Prong had given it as his opinion that Luke would not trouble them again by his personal appearance among them. Under these circumstances Mrs. Prime had thought that she might spare her sister. Nor had she said much about her own love affairs. She had never mentioned Mr. Prong's offer in Rachel's presence; nor did she do so now. As long as Rachel remained in the room the conversation was very innocent and very uninteresting. For a few minutes the two widows were alone together, and then Mrs. Prime gave her mother to understand that things were not yet quite arranged between herself and Mr. Prong. "You see, mother," said Mrs. Prime, "as this money has been committed to my charge, I do not think it can be right to let it go altogether out of my own hands." In answer to this Mrs. Ray had uttered a word or two agreeing with her daughter. She was afraid to say much against Mr. Prong;--was afraid, indeed, to express any very strong opinion about this proposed marriage; but in her heart she would have been delighted to hear that the Prong alliance was to be abandoned. There was nothing in Mr. Prong to recommend him to Mrs. Ray.