Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive) The English Library No. 95 THE MARRIAGE OF ELINOR BY MRS. OLIPHANT _IN TWO VOLUMES_ _VOLUMES By THE SAME AUTHOR PUBLISHED IN_ The English Library 77. 78. THE RAILWAY MAN AND HIS CHILDREN 2 Vols. _Copyright Edition._ THE MARRIAGE OF ELINOR BY MRS. OLIPHANT AUTHOR OF “_KIRSTERN_,” “_WITHIN THE PRECINCTS_,” “_AT HIS GATES_,” “_THE RAILWAY MAN AND HIS CHILDREN_,” _ETC._ _IN TWO VOLUMES_ VOLUME I. LEIPZIG HEINEMANN AND BALESTIER _LIMITED, LONDON_ 1892 THE MARRIAGE OF ELINOR. CHAPTER I. John Tatham, barrister-at-law, received one summer morning as he sat at breakfast the following letter. It was written in what was once known distinctively as a lady’s hand, in pointed characters, very fine and delicate, and was to this effect:-- “DEAR JOHN, Have you heard from Elinor of her new prospects and intentions? I suppose she must have written to you on the subject. Do you know anything of the man?... You know how hard it is to convince her against her will of anything, and also how poorly gifted I am with the power of convincing any one. And I don’t know him, therefore can speak with no authority. If you can do anything to clear things up, come and do so. I am very anxious and more than doubtful; but her heart seems set upon it. “Your affect. “M. S. D.”