I. THE PLUM TREE 1 II. THE MANOR HOUSE 7 III. YOUNG MRS. LORING 19 IV. A CHILLY RECEPTION 29 V. AT WITTISHAM 39 VI. MARK LAVENDAR 54 VII. A CROSS-EXAMINATION 69 VIII. SUNDAY AT STOKE REVEL 87 IX. POINTS OF VIEW 99 X. A NEW KINSMAN 113 XI. THE SANDS AT WESTON 127 XII. LOVE IN THE MUD 151 XIII. CARNABY TO THE RESCUE 170 XIV. THE EMPTY SHRINE 181 XV. "NOW LUBIN IS AWAY" 194 XVI. TWO LETTERS 210 XVII. MRS. DE TRACY CROSSES THE FERRY 217 XVIII. THE STOKE REVEL JEWELS 234 XIX. LAWYER AND CLIENT 250 XX. THE NEW HOME 260 XXI. CARNABY CUTS THE KNOT 273 XXII. CONSEQUENCES 284 XXIII. DEATH AND LIFE 299 XXIV. GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDSON 309 XXV. THE BELLS OF STOKE REVEL 324 ROBINETTA I THE PLUM TREE At Wittisham several of the little houses had crept down very close to the river. Mrs. Prettyman's cottage was just like a hive made for the habitation of some gigantic bee; its pointed roof covered with deep, close-cut thatch the colour of a donkey's hide. There were small windows under the overhanging eaves, a pathway of irregular flat stones ran up to the doorway, and a bit of low wall divided the tiny garden from the river. The Plum Tree grew just beside the wall, so near indeed that it could look at itself on spring days when the water was like a mirror. In autumn the branches on that side of the tree were the first to be shaken, lest any of the fruit should fall down and be lost. Sometimes a village child treading cautiously on bare toes amongst the stones along the narrow margin, would pounce upon a plum with a squeal of joy, for although the village was surrounded with orchards, the fruit of Mrs. Prettyman's tree had a flavour all its own.