XVIII.--THE SYSTEM ENCOUNTERS THE WILD OATS SPECIAL PLEA 120 XIX.--A DIVERSION PLAYED ON A PENNY WHISTLE 124 XX.--CELEBRATES THE TIME-HONOURED TREATMENT OF A DRAGON BY THE HERO 127 XXI.--RICHARD IS SUMMONED TO TOWN TO HEAR A SERMON 145 XXII.--INDICATES THE APPROACHES OF FEVER 153 XXIII.--CRISIS IN THE APPLE-DISEASE 163 XXIV.--OF THE SPRING PRIMROSE AND THE AUTUMNAL 175 XXV.--IN WHICH THE HERO TAKES A STEP 180 XXVI.--RECORDS THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE HERO 199 XXVII.--CONTAINS AN INTERCESSION FOR THE HEROINE 213 XXVIII.--RELATES HOW PREPARATIONS FOR ACTION WERE CONDUCTED UNDER THE APRIL OF LOVERS 216 XXIX.--IN WHICH THE LAST ACT OF THE COMEDY TAKES THE PLACE OF THE FIRST 233 XXX.--CELEBRATES THE BREAKFAST 246 XXXI.--THE PHILOSOPHER APPEARS IN PERSON 255 XXXII.--PROCESSION OF THE CAKE 262 XXXIII.--NURSING THE DEVIL 279 XXXIV.--CONQUEST OF AN EPICURE 290 XXXV.--CLARE'S MARRIAGE 310 XXXVI.--A DINNER-PARTY AT RICHMOND 325 XXXVII.--MRS. BERRY ON MATRIMONY 341 XXXVIII.--AN ENCHANTRESS 352 XXXIX.--THE LITTLE BIRD AND THE FALCON: A BERRY TO THE RESCUE! 376 XL.--CLARE'S DIARY 392 XLI.--AUSTIN RETURNS 409 XLII.--NATURE SPEAKS 420 XLIII.--AGAIN THE MAGIAN CONFLICT 429 XLIV.--THE LAST SCENE 437 XLV.--LADY BLANDISH TO AUSTIN WENTWORTH 454 INTRODUCTION I Among the Victorian novelists, George Meredith occupies a place apart. Unlike Dickens, Thackeray, and Eliot, he appeals to a select few. Those who appreciate him are folk of his own temper--cultivated, intellectual, urbane. They are persons of taste and discernment. They are generally the middle-aged rather than the young. They are those who, aloof and contemplative, relish the comedy of life, rather than those who throw themselves whole-heartedly into the game. It is not to be marvelled at, therefore, that Meredith should have won his way slowly, or that recognition, when it came, should have rendered his position unique and secure.