Editorial note: _Wives and Daughters_ was first published serially in the _Cornhill Magazine_ from August, 1864, to January, 1866. Elizabeth Gaskell died suddenly in November, 1865. She had completed all but the last chapter, and in that sense the book, which many consider her masterpiece, is unfinished. The editor of the _Cornhill Magazine_, Frederick Greenwood, appended his comments about Mrs. Gaskell's intentions for the conclusion and about Mrs. Gaskell as a person. Those comments are included at the end of this e-book. _Wives and Daughters_ was first published in book form in 1866 by Smith, Elder. Both the _Cornhill_ serial and the Smith, Elder first edition had eighteen full-page illustrations by George du Maurier, and those are included in this e-book. The _Cornhill_ edition also had small illustrations at the beginning of seventeen chapters, and those too are included. The illustrations can be seen by viewing the HTML version of this file. See 4274-h.htm: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/4274/4274-h/4274-h.htm WIVES AND DAUGHTERS. An Every-Day Story. by Mrs. Gaskell With Illustrations by George du Maurier [Illustration: Molly's New Bonnet. (frontispiece)] CONTENTS. I. THE DAWN OF A GALA DAY. II. A NOVICE AMONGST THE GREAT FOLK. III. MOLLY GIBSON'S CHILDHOOD. IV. MR. GIBSON'S NEIGHBOURS. V. CALF-LOVE. VI. A VISIT TO THE HAMLEYS. VII. FORESHADOWS OF LOVE PERILS. VIII. DRIFTING INTO DANGER. IX. THE WIDOWER AND THE WIDOW. X. A CRISIS. XI. MAKING FRIENDSHIP. XII. PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING. XIII. MOLLY GIBSON'S NEW FRIENDS. XIV. MOLLY FINDS HERSELF PATRONIZED. XV. THE NEW MAMMA. XVI. THE BRIDE AT HOME. XVII. TROUBLE AT HAMLEY HALL. XVIII. MR. OSBORNE'S SECRET. XIX. CYNTHIA'S ARRIVAL. XX. MRS. GIBSON'S VISITORS. XXI. THE HALF-SISTERS. XXII. THE OLD SQUIRE'S TROUBLES. XXIII. OSBORNE HAMLEY REVIEWS HIS POSITION. XXIV. MRS. GIBSON'S LITTLE DINNER. XXV. HOLLINGFORD IN A BUSTLE. XXVI. A CHARITY BALL. XXVII. FATHER AND SONS. XXVIII. RIVALRY. XXIX. BUSH-FIGHTING. XXX. OLD WAYS AND NEW WAYS. XXXI. A PASSIVE COQUETTE. XXXII. COMING EVENTS. XXXIII. BRIGHTENING PROSPECTS. XXXIV. A LOVER'S MISTAKE. XXXV. THE MOTHER'S MANOEUVRE. XXXVI. DOMESTIC DIPLOMACY. XXXVII. A FLUKE, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. XXXVIII. MR. KIRKPATRICK, Q.C. XXXIX. SECRET THOUGHTS OOZE OUT. XL. MOLLY GIBSON BREATHES FREELY. XLI. GATHERING CLOUDS. XLII. THE STORM BURSTS. XLIII. CYNTHIA'S CONFESSION. XLIV. MOLLY GIBSON TO THE RESCUE. XLV. CONFIDENCES. XLVI. HOLLINGFORD GOSSIPS. XLVII. SCANDAL AND ITS VICTIMS. XLVIII. AN INNOCENT CULPRIT. XLIX.