Produced by Jonathan Ingram, William Flis, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team THE VICAR'S DAUGHTER BY GEORGE MACDONALD The Vicar's Daughter was originally published in 1872 by Tinsley Brothers, London. [Illustration: "I've brought you the baby to kiss," I said, unfolding the blanket. Page 98.] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER II. I TRY CHAPTER III. MY WEDDING CHAPTER IV. JUDY'S VISIT CHAPTER V. GOOD SOCIETY CHAPTER VI. A REFUGE FROM THE HEAT CHAPTER VII. CONNIE CHAPTER VIII. CONNIE'S BABY CHAPTER IX. THE FOUNDLING REFOUND CHAPTER X. WAGTAIL COMES TO HONOR CHAPTER XI. A STUPID CHAPTER CHAPTER XII. AN INTRODUCTION CHAPTER XIII. MY FIRST DINNER PARTY.--A NEGATIVED PROPOSAL CHAPTER XIV. A PICTURE CHAPTER XV. RUMORS CHAPTER XVI. A DISCOVERY CHAPTER XVII. MISS CLARE CHAPTER XVIII. MISS CLARE'S HOME CHAPTER XIX. HER STORY CHAPTER XX. A REMARKABLE FACT CHAPTER XXI. LADY BERNARD CHAPTER XXII. MY SECOND DINNER PARTY CHAPTER XXIII. THE END OF THE EVENING CHAPTER XXIV. MY FIRST TERROR CHAPTER XXV. ITS SEQUEL CHAPTER XXVI. TROUBLES CHAPTER XXVII. MISS CLARE AMONGST HER FRIENDS CHAPTER XXVIII. MR. MORLEY CHAPTER XXIX. A STRANGE TEXT CHAPTER XXX. ABOUT SERVANTS CHAPTER XXXI. ABOUT PERCIVALE CHAPTER XXXII. MY SECOND TERROR CHAPTER XXXIII. THE CLOUDS AFTER THE RAIN CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SUNSHINE CHAPTER XXXV. WHAT LADY BERNARD THOUGHT OF IT CHAPTER XXXVI. RETROSPECTIVE CHAPTER XXXVII. MRS. CROMWELL COMES CHAPTER XXXVIII. MRS. CROMWELL GOES CHAPTER XXXIX. ANCESTRAL WISDOM CHAPTER XL. CHILD NONSENSE CHAPTER XLI. "DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE" CHAPTER XLII. ROGER AND MARION CHAPTER XLIII. A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ROGER, AND ABOUT MR. BLACKSTONE CHAPTER XLIV. THE DEA EX CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. I think that is the way my father would begin. My name is Ethelwyn Percivale, and used to be Ethelwyn Walton. I always put the Walton in between when I write to my father; for I think it is quite enough to have to leave father and mother behind for a husband, without leaving their name behind you also. I am fond of lumber-rooms, and in some houses consider them far the most interesting spots; but I don't choose that my old name should lie about in the one at home. I am much afraid of writing nonsense; but my father tells me that to see things in print is a great help to recognizing whether they are nonsense or not. And he tells me, too, that his friend the publisher, who,--but I will speak of him presently,--his friend the publisher is not like any other publisher he ever met with before; for he never grumbles at any alterations writers choose to make,--at least he never says any thing, although it costs a great deal to shift the types again after they are once set up. The other part of my excuse for attempting to write lies simply in telling how it came about.