Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: "The danger is over. Look up and see your fallen adversary."] _[The Stanton-Corbet Chronicles.]_ _[Year 1684]_ _Through_ _Unknown Ways_ _An Old-World Story_ BY L. E. GUERNSEY _[Lucy Ellen Guernsey]_ AUTHOR OF "LADY BETTY'S GOVERNESS," "LADY ROSAMOND'S BOOK," "THE FOSTER-SISTERS," ETC. NEW EDITION LONDON JOHN F. SHAW AND CO. 48 PATERNOSTER ROW CONTENTS. BOOK I. December 10, 1684. BOOK II. August 1, 1685. BOOK III. Studley Hall, 1687. [Illustration] THROUGH UNKNOWN WAYS. [Illustration] BOOK I. _December 10, 1684._ PERHAPS I may as well begin this book by telling how I came to write it at all. Lady Corbet, my mistress (I suppose I ought to say mine "honored" mistress, but I sha'n't: I am going to have the comfort of speaking my mind in these pages, if nowhere else). But to begin again, in a more orderly fashion. Lady Corbet, with whom I am living as waiting-gentlewoman, companion, and general butt for ill-humors,—there I go again,—well, Lady Corbet took it in her head to give me the use of this cabinet. She was making a tour of inspection of the whole house to which we have just removed, and had been put into a better humor than was usual with her so early in the day by finding in this very cabinet a purse with three gold pieces and some silver, left here I suppose by Sir Charles's first wife,— poor, pretty Lady Jemima, whose portrait by Lely hangs in the great parlor. My lady clutched the purse as a dog snaps at a bone, and dropped it into her pocket. Then she took up a knot or favor of rose-colored ribbon spangled with silver which lay beside it, still fresh and pretty, and smelling of roses like every thing else in the cabinet. "See there, child!" said she, turning to me. "The poor bedizened thing had to leave all her finery and fallals behind her when she went to the grave. There is a lesson for you." "And her money also, madam," said Mrs. Williams, her woman, who had followed us with a light cloak which she laid about Lady Corbet's shoulders. Mrs. Williams is not afraid of my lady, as I am. But then, she can leave when she pleases. "What do yo you mean, Williams?" asked my lady. "Of course I know that. We must leave every thing behind us when we die. You have heard me say that a thousand times."