Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

DEAD MEN’S SHOES.

DEAD MEN’S SHOES

A Novel

BY THE AUTHOR OF

‘LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET’

ETC. ETC. ETC.

IN THREE VOLUMES

VOL. I.

LONDON
JOHN MAXWELL AND CO.
4, SHOE LANE, FLEET STREET

1876

[_All rights reserved._]

To SIR J. CORDY BURROWS, J.P.,
BRIGHTON.

DEAR SIR CORDY BURROWS,

If anything can justify the dedication of a book to any one, it surely must be a friendship that has lasted nearly twenty years; marked on your side by many acts of care and kindness, and on mine by a most sincere appreciation of your genial and generous nature. I have therefore great pleasure in recording this fact, and I have still greater pleasure in dedicating this story to you.

Believe me,

Dear SIR CORDY BURROWS,

Very sincerely yours,

THE AUTHOR.

RICHMOND, _February, 1876_.

CONTENTS TO VOL. I.

CHAP. PAGE

I. ‘PLUNGED IN THE DEPTH OF HELPLESS POVERTY’ 1

II. ‘O WORLD, THY SLIPPERY TURNS!’ 24

III. THE TRUE METAL 39

IV. ‘HAD THE CHANCE BEEN WITH US THAT HAS NOT BEEN’ 47

V. SIBYL FAUNTHORPE’S DIARY 60

VI. THE ÉLITE OF REDCASTLE 94

VII. DRIFTING INTO HAVEN 104

VIII. THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL 117

IX. UNCLE TRENCHARD 131

X. SIBYL TAKES THE LEAD 140

XI. HOW STEPHEN TRENCHARD FORGIVES 152

XII. LOVE, THEN, HAD HOPE OF RICHER STORE 171

XIII. THE SWEETS OF LIFE 195

XIV. MAKING READY FOR VICTORY 208

XV. TOWN AND COUNTY 221

XVI. A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR 246

XVII. THE WANDERER’S RETURN 273

XVIII. AT ARM’S LENGTH 287

DEAD MEN’S SHOES.