Chapter I: Front Matter

FAIRY FINGERS.

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_IN PRESS:_

BY THE AUTHOR OF THIS VOLUME,

THE MUTE SINGER; A Novel.

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FAIRY FINGERS.

A Novel.

BY

ANNA CORA RITCHIE,

AUTHOR OF "THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN ACTRESS," "MIMIC LIFE," "TWIN ROSES," "ARMAND," "FASHION," ETC.

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"Labor is Worship."

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NEW YORK:

CARLETON, PUBLISHER, 413 BROADWAY.

MDCCCLXV.

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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by GEO. W. CARLETON.

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Noblesse, 7

II. The Cousins, 17

III. Madeleine, 24

IV. Proposals, 38

V. Heart-beats, 43

VI. Unmasking, 55

VII. A Crisis, 68

VIII. Flight, 79

IX. The Empty Place, 94

X. The Humble Companion, 109

XI. Pursuit, 116

XII. The Sister of Charity, 121

XIII. Weary Days, 131

XIV. Diamonds and Emeralds, 139

XV. The Embroidered Handkerchief, 148

XVI. A Voice from the Lost One, 155

XVII. "Chiffons," 166

XVIII. Maurice, 173

XIX. The Aristocrats in America, 179

XX. The Incognita, 186

XXI. The Cytherea of Fashion, 195

XXII. Meeting, 200

XXIII. Noble Hands made Nobler, 213

XXIV. Feminine Belligerents, 226

XXV. The Message, 237

XXVI. Meeting of Lovers, 241

XXVII. Count Tristan's Policy, 249

XXVIII. Lord Linden's Discovery, 254

XXIX. A Contest, 260

XXX. Bertha, 268

XXXI. A Surprise, 278

XXXII. The Nobleman and Mantua-maker, 283

XXXIII. Madame De Gramont, 294

XXXIV. Half the Wooer, 298

XXXV. A Revelation, 305

XXXVI. The Suitor, 311

XXXVII. A Shock, 314

XXXVIII. The Mantua-maker's Guests, 323

XXXIX. Ministration, 330

XL. Recognition, 340

XLI. Unbowed, 345

XLII. Double Convalescence, 352

XLIII. Outgeneralled, 357

XLIV. A Change, 364

XLV. Reparation, 375

XLVI. A Mishap, 380

XLVII. Inflexibility, 387

XLVIII. The New England Nurse, 392

XLIX. Ronald, 405

L. A Secret Divined, 409

LI. Seed Sown, 415

LII. A Lover's Snare, 420

LIII. Resistance, 426

LIV. An Unexpected Visit, 431

LV. Amen, 435

LVI. The Hand of God, 442

LVII. Conclusion, 453

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FAIRY FINGERS.