Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net UNDER THE MENDIPS. Under the Mendips _A TALE_ _By_ EMMA MARSHALL _Author of_ IN COLSTON'S DAYS, LIFE'S AFTERMATH, IN THE EAST COUNTRY, &c. SIXTH THOUSAND [Illustration: Bristol Harbour.] LONDON SEELEY AND CO., LIMITED, ESSEX STREET, STRAND 1892 PREFACE I am greatly indebted to that very interesting book, "Bristol Past and Present," for the details of the Bristol Riots, in the autumn of 1831, which are introduced into this story. It closes with the birth of the new year, 1832; and therefore the special commission appointed to try the prisoners does not come within its limits. But anyone who may be interested in the fate of Colonel Brereton, may, by referring to "Bristol Past and Present," and other contemporary records, learn his sad and most lamentable end. Feeling the evidence of the Court Martial was entirely against him, he forestalled his sentence with his own hand, and shot himself through the heart, on Thursday night, January the 14th, 1832. With all the many complications of Colonel Brereton's position it is not for us to deal, nor judge him harshly for apparent failure in duty at a time when the hearts of many brave men sank within them, for looking on these things which were coming on their ancient city. But this, his last act, must ever awaken one of the saddest memories of those sad times, casting a shadow over the name of an English officer, and presenting the most painful and pathetic picture of what a man may do, who, in a moment of despair and helplessness, cannot cry to the strong for strength. WOODSIDE, LEIGH WOODS, CLIFTON, BRISTOL _Nov. 1, 1885._ CONTENTS. PART I. CHAP. PAGE I. FAIR ACRES 1 II. THE CITY OF THE DEEP SPRINGS 31 III. THE PALACE 59 IV. THE LADY OF BARLEY WOOD 83 V. SUNDAY AT FAIR ACRES 108 VI. AMONGST THE HEATHER 126 VII. ON SION HILL, CLIFTON 150 VIII. BARLEY WOOD 176 IX. A DARK CLOUD OVER FAIR ACRES 200 X. THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER 226 XI. MEETING 260 PART II. XII. ON THE ROAD TO BRISTOL 285 XIII. A LULL IN THE STORM 314 XIV. THE STORM BURSTS 332 XV. TUMULT 358