Produced by Jonathan Ingram and PG Distributed Proofreaders [Illustration: Henry French, del. E. Evans, sc. "Mr. Granger seated himself by his wife's side and bent down to kiss his son without waking him."] THE LOVELS OF ARDEN BY THE AUTHOR OF "LADY AUDLEY'S SECRET," "AURORA FLOYD," "VIXEN," "ISHMAEL," ETC., ETC., ETC. CHEAP UNIFORM EDITION OF MISS BRADDON'S NOVELS. _Price 2s. picture boards; 2s. 6d. cloth gilt; 3s. 6d. half parchment or half morocco; postage 4d._ MISS BRADDON'S NOVELS INCLUDING "LADY AUDLEY'S SECRET," "VIXEN," "ISHMAEL," ETC. "No one can be dull who has a novel by Miss Braddon in hand. The most tiresome journey is beguiled, and the most wearisome illness is brightened, by any one of her books." "Miss Braddon is the Queen of the circulating libraries."--_The World._ N.B.--There are now 43 Novels always in print. For full list see back of cover, or apply for a Catalogue, to be sent (post free). CONTENTS CHAP. I. COMING HOME II. BEGINNING THE WORLD III. FATHER AND DAUGHTER IV. CLARISSA IS "TAKEN UP" V. AT HALE CASTLE VI. AND THIS IS GEORGE FAIRFAX VII. DANGEROUS GROUND VIII. SMOULDERING FIRES IX. LADY LAURA DIPLOMATISES X. LADY LAURA'S PREPARATIONS XI. DANIEL GRANGER XII. MR. GRANGER IS INTERESTED XIII. OPEN TREASON XIV. THE MORNING AFTER XV. CHIEFLY PATERNAL XVI. LORD CHALDERWOOD IS THE CAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE XVII. "'TIS DEEPEST WINTER IN LORD TIMON'S PURSE" XVIII. SOMETHING FATAL XIX. MR. GRANGER IS PRECIPITATE XX. MODEL VILLAGERS XXI. VERY FAR GONE XXII. TAKING THE PLEDGE XXIII. "HE'S SWEETEST FRIEND, OR HARDEST FOE" XXIV. "IT MEANS ARDEN COURT" XXV. WEDDING BELLS XXVI. COMING HOME XXVII. IN THE SEASON XXVIII. MR. WOOSTER XXIX. "IF I SHOULD MEET THEE--" XXX. THE HEIR OF ARDEN XXXI. THE NEAREST WAY TO CARLSRUHE XXXII. AUSTIN XXXIII. ONLY A PORTRAIT-PAINTER XXXIV. AUSTIN'S PROSPECTS XXXV. SISTERS-IN-LAW XXXVI. "AND THROUGH THE LIFE HAVE I NOT WRIT MY NAME?" XXXVII. STOLEN HOURS XXXVIII. "FROM CLARISSA" XXXIX. THAT IS WHAT LOVE MEANS XL. LYING IN WAIT XLI. MR. GRANGER'S WELCOME HOME XLII. CAUGHT IN A TRAP XLIII. CLARISSA'S ELOPEMENT XLIV. UNDER THE SHADOW OF ST. GUDULE XLV. TEMPTATION XLVI. ON THE WING XLVII. IN TIME OF NEED XLVIII. "STRANGERS YET" XLIX. BEGINNING AGAIN L. HOW SUCH THINGS END CHAPTER I. COMING HOME. The lamps of the Great Northern Terminus at King's Cross had not long been lighted, when a cab deposited a young lady and her luggage at the departure platform. It was an October twilight, cold and gray, and the place had a cheerless and dismal aspect to that solitary young traveller, to whom English life and an English atmosphere were somewhat strange.