Chapter I: Front Matter

RUPERT GODWIN

A Novel

BY THE AUTHOR OF

“LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET,” “AURORA FLOYD”
“VIXEN,” “ISHMAEL,” “WYLLARD’S WEIRD”
ETC. ETC.

Stereotyped Edition

LONDON:
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO.,
LIMITED,
STATIONERS’ HALL COURT
1890.

[_All rights reserved._]

=MISS BRADDON’S NOVELS.=

NOW READY AT ALL BOOKSELLERS’ AND BOOKSTALLS,
PRICE 2_s._ 6_d._ EACH, CLOTH GILT.

THE AUTHOR’S AUTOGRAPH EDITION
OF MISS BRADDON’S NOVELS.

“No one can be dull who has a novel by Miss Braddon in hand.
The most tiresome journey is beguiled, and the most wearisome
illness is brightened, by any one of her books.”

“Miss Braddon is the Queen of the circulating libraries.”

_The World._

LONDON:
SIMPKIN & CO., LIMITED,
STATIONERS’ HALL COURT.

_And at all Railway Bookstalls, Booksellers’, and Libraries._

PUBLISHERS’ ANNOUNCEMENT.

_Rupert Godwin_ was written for, and first appeared in, a cheap Weekly Journal. From this source the Tale was translated into the French language, and ran as the leading story in the _Journal pour Tous_. It was there discovered by an American, who re-translated the matter back into English, and who obtained an outlet for the new translation in the columns of the _New-York Mercury_. These and other versions have been made without the slightest advantage to the Author; or, indeed, without the faintest approach to any direct communication to her on the subject. Influenced by the facts as here stated, the Author has revised the original, and now offers the result for what it is, namely, a Tale of Incident written to amuse the short intervals of leisure which the readers of popular periodicals can snatch from their daily avocations.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. A SAD FAREWELL 1

II. RUPERT GODWIN THE BANKER 7

III. AN IMPORTUNATE CREDITOR 16

IV. A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS 23

V. LOVE’S YOUNG DREAM 33

VI. THE STORY OF THE PAST 38

VII. THE STOLEN LETTER 47

VIII. THE DAY OF DESOLATION 54

IX. A PITILESS CLAIMANT 58

X. HIDDEN IN THE YEW-TREE 62

XI. HOMELESS AND FRIENDLESS 71

XII. MATERNAL MANŒUVRES 76

XIII. A DAUGHTER’S TRIAL 86

XIV. LOVE AT SIGHT 89

XV. VIOLET RESOLVES UPON ENTERING A NEW SPHERE 93

XVI. BEHIND THE SCENES 101

XVII. CRUEL KINDNESS 105

XVIII. WILMINGDON HALL 112

XIX. A RECOGNITION AND A DISAPPOINTMENT 119

XX. THE MARQUIS OF ROXLEYDALE 123

XXI. BENT BUT NOT BROKEN 131

XXII. JULIA’S PROTÉGÉ 134

XXIII. ON THE THRESHOLD 139

XXIV. MISS VANBERG IS MALICIOUS 143

XXV. FALCON AND DOVE 150

XXVI. IN THE LABYRINTH 160

XXVII. A DARK JOURNEY 164

XXVIII. THE HOUSEKEEPER’S STORY 170

XXIX. “SHE WEPT, DELIVERED FROM HER DANGER” 177

XXX. UNDERGROUND 185

XXXI. ON THE TRACK 191

XXXII. ESTHER VANBERG HAS HER WAY 202

XXXIII. THE EVIDENCE OF THE MINIATURE 208

XXXIV. FEVER-STRICKEN 214

XXXV. AN ALARMING DISCOVERY 222

XXXVI. DISCOMFITED 225

XXXVII. PUT TO THE TEST 237

XXXVIII. RIDING TO HER DOOM 238

XXXIX. THE SHADOW OF DEATH 247

XL. A FATAL LESSON 251

XLI. SILENCED 259

XLII. GIRT WITH FIRE 267

XLIII. THE CLERK’S STORY 272

XLIV. THE DUKE OF HARLINGFORD MAKES A DISCOVERY 278

XLV. THE FACE OF THE LOST 286

XLVI. SUSPENSE 291

XLVII. RESURGAM 298

XLVIII. “VENGEANCE IS MINE” 306

RUPERT GODWIN.