_The Fourth Generation_ _The FOURTH GENERATION_ _BY_ _SIR WALTER BESANT_ _Author of_ “ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN,” “THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN,” “A FOUNTAIN SEALED,” “THE CITY OF REFUGE,” ETC. [Illustration: colophon] _FOURTH EDITION_ _NEW YORK_ _Frederick A. Stokes Company_ _Publishers_ COPYRIGHT, 1899, 1900, BY WALTER BESANT. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A REMOTE ANCESTOR 1 II. WHAT HE WANTED 24 III. SOMETHING TO COME 49 IV. THE COMPLETE SUPPLY 59 V. A LEARNED PROFESSION 74 VI. THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL 90 VII. THE CHILD OF SORROWS 103 VIII. IN THE LAND OF BEECHES 118 IX. MARY ANNE 151 X. A DINNER AT THE CLUB 164 XI. THE BOOK OF EXTRACTS 174 XII. ON THE SITE 202 XIII. A COMPROMISE 224 XIV. CONSULTATION 232 XV. “BARLOW BROTHERS” 248 XVI. AND ANOTHER CAME 258 XVII. YET ANOTHER! 278 XVIII. THE LIGHT THAT BROKE 290 XIX. THE SIGNS OF CHANGE 306 XX. HE SPEAKS AT LAST 322 XXI. THE WILL 341 PREFACE It is perhaps well to explain that this story first appeared as a serial early in 1899: that on revision it was found desirable partly to rewrite certain chapters and to enlarge upon certain points. The structure of the story, the characters, and the situations remain unaltered.