The Old Countess; or, The Two Proposals   By: Ann S. Stephens (1810-1886)

BY

MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.

AUTHOR OF "LORD HOPE'S CHOICE," "THE REIGNING BELLE," "MARRIED IN HASTE," "MABEL'S MISTAKE," "DOUBLY FALSE," "WIVES AND WIDOWS," "MARY DERWENT," "THE REJECTED WIFE," "THE SOLDIER'S ORPHANS," "THE OLD HOMESTEAD," "FASHION AND FAMINE," "THE HEIRESS," "RUBY GRAY'S STRATEGY," "THE CURSE OF GOLD," "SILENT STRUGGLES," "THE WIFE'S SECRET," "PALACES AND PRISONS," "THE GOLD BRICK," "A NOBLE WOMAN."

A SEQUEL TO "LORD HOPE'S CHOICE."

PHILADELPHIA: T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS; 306 CHESTNUT STREET.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by T. B. PETERSON & BROTHERS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

CONTENTS.

Chapter PAGE

I. LOVE LIGHTS IN TWO HEARTS. 23

II. CLARA APPEALS TO HER STEPMOTHER. 30

III. LOVERS' QUARREL. 40

IV. THE ITALIAN TEACHER. 48

V. THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER IN OPPOSITION. 57

VI. SOME OLD ACQUAINTANCES GET INTO A CONJUGAL DIFFICULTY. 68

VII. THE OPERATIC SUPPER. 77

VIII. BEHIND THE SCENES. 86

IX. THE FIRST PERFORMANCE. 91

X. THE TWO FOSTER CHILDREN MEET. 96

XI. LADY CLARA QUARRELS WITH HER STEPMOTHER. 101

XII. THE OLD PRISONER. 107

XIII. THE OLD COUNTESS. 116

XIV. THE OLD COUNTESS AND HER SERVANT. 122

XV. THE EARL'S RETURN. 133

XVI. THE WIFE AND THE DAUGHTER. 143

XVII. HUSBAND AND WIFE. 152

XVIII. THE STORMY NIGHT AND SUNSHINY MORNING. 159

XIX. AFTER THE FAILURE. 167

XX. LORD HILTON TAKES SUPPER WITH OLYMPIA. 176

XXI. ON THE WAY TO HOUGHTON CASTLE. 184

XXII. THE OLD COUNTESS. 191

XXIII. EXPLANATIONS AND CONCESSIONS. 197

XXIV. DOWN BY THE BROOK AMONG THE FERNS. 203

XXV. HOW LADY CLARA GOT HER OWN WAY. 208

XXVI. THE QUARREL AND THE LETTER. 214

XXVII. MAGGIE CASEY MEETS HER OLD LOVER. 220

XXVIII. JUST FIFTY POUNDS. 224

XXIX. OLYMPIA'S DEFEAT. 232

XXX. THE FAMILY MEETING AT HOUGHTON. 240

XXXI. DOWN AMONG THE FERNS AGAIN. 247

XXXII. OUT AMONG THE TREES. 253

XXXIII. THE BALL AT HOUGHTON. 263

XXXIV. THE OLD WOMAN WANDERS BACK AGAIN. 269

XXXV. LADY HOPE IN THE CASTLE. 274

XXXVI. DEATH IN THE TOWER CHAMBER. 280

XXXVII. THE NEMESIS. 289

THE OLD COUNTESS; OR, THE TWO PROPOSALS.

CHAPTER I.

LOVE LIGHTS IN TWO HEARTS.

During fourteen years Hepworth Closs had been a wanderer over the earth.

When he was carried out from the court room after Mrs. Yates' confession of a crime which he had shrinkingly believed committed by another, he had fainted from the suddenness with which a terrible load had been lifted from his soul.