Johnny Ludlow Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Johnny Ludlow novel. A total of 580 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Johnny Ludlow.First Series.by Mrs. Henry Wood.I.LOSING LENA.We lived chiefly at d.y.k.e
Johnny Ludlow.First Series.by Mrs. Henry Wood.I.LOSING LENA.We lived chiefly at d.y.k.e Manor. A fine old place, so close upon the borders of Warwicks.h.i.+re and Worcesters.h.i.+re, that many people did not know which of the two counties it was really in
- 480 "He come in after Mrs. Hannah and the other had gone," she replied, taking a moment's pause. "Close upon it; I'd hardly shut my door on them when I had to open it to him.""Did he go out again?""Not he, sir. He eat his supper, telling me in a grum
- 479 A wild screech! Two wild screeches. Phoebe had put her hands on the startled women, and given vent to a dismal groan. _She_ laughed: but the others went into a desperate pa.s.sion. First at having been frightened, next at having been followed. When matter
- 478 "You must not work to-day, Monk. Squire Todhetley never allows it on Good Friday."He laughed pleasantly; as much as to say, what Squire Todhetley allowed, or did not allow, was no concern of his; and went briskly away across the lawn. And not once, duri
- 477 It could not be said that she had any special complaint, but she was too weak to live.In less than three weeks it was all over. The end, when it came, was quite sudden. For a day or two she had seemed so much better that we told her she had taken a turn a
- 476 Come, come, Mary, that is going too far!""Quelle drole d'idee!" exclaimed the little doctor."He appeared to her twice, she told me," continued Mary Carimon. "She had been spending the evening out each time; had come into the house, this house, clos
- 475 It was the forenoon of the day after we arrived. David Preen had gone in first, her kinsman and distant cousin, to the Pet.i.te Maison Rouge, paving the way, as it were, for Featherston. We went in presently. Mrs.Fennel sat in a large armchair by the salo
- 474 In my dreams, sometimes, I am at Selby Court, light-hearted and happy, as I was before I left it for this 'stranger land.' Woe's _me_, also, Stella!"And now I come into the story--I, Johnny Ludlow. For what I have told of it hitherto has not been from
- 473 One evening at the end of July, when the London steamer was due about ten o'clock, Nancy went to watch it in, as usual, Flore attending her.The port was gay, crowded with promenaders. There had been a concert at the Rooms, and the company was coming home
- 472 "It is altogether a dreadful thing; I lie awake thinking of it,"bewailed Mary Carimon."But it cannot be let go on like this," said Flore; "and that's what has brought me running here this morning--to ask you, madame, whether anything can be done. If
- 471 Mr. Edwin Fennel could not have felt more astounded had his wife then and there turned into a dromedary before his eyes. She had hitherto been tractable as a child. But he had never tried her in a thing that touched her honour, and he saw that the card wh
- 470 Nancy rose, opened her workbox, which stood on the side-table, and brought forth the purse. Of course Madame Carimon's motive had been to change her thoughts. After admiring the purse, and talking of other pleasant matters, Mary took her departure.And th
- 469 Can't you manage to do that without stooping?""To go to England!" repeated Nancy, lifting her flushed face."Here's a letter from my brother; the postman gave it me as I was crossing the Place Ronde. It's only a line or two," he added, tossing it t
- 468 The guests appeared punctually at seven o'clock. Such a thing as being invited for one hour, and strolling in an hour or two after it, was a mark of English breeding never yet heard of in the simple-mannered French town. Miss Featherston, a smart, lively
- 467 "Not regret her," he repeated with emphasis. "Why, Nancy, I regret her every hour of the day. But I do not make a parade of my regrets. Why should I?--to what end? Come, come, my dear; you will be all the better for eating your dinner."He went on with
- 466 The old doctor understood English fairly well when it was quietly spoken; but he did not in the least understand it in a storm. Sobbing, trembling, Mrs. Fennel was beseeching him not to hold a post-mortem on her poor dead sister, for the love of mercy.Sur
- 465 "Thank you, Nancy; but I hope I shall sleep to-night without dreaming,"answered Lavinia.As Nancy went downstairs she turned into the kitchen for her own arrowroot, which she had left all that time in the saucepan. Being fond of it, she had made enough f
- 464 "There's a huge cream tart--lovely."Captain Fennel was quite lively at the dinner-table. He related a rather laughable story which had been told him by Major Smith, with whom he had walked for ten minutes after church, and was otherwise gracious.After
- 463 The major----""What business had the major in London?" questioned Captain Fennel impatiently."You can ask him," said Charles equably, "I didn't. He is back again.Well, Major Smith, being questioned, made no bones about it at all; said Griffin and G
- 462 "I am in great trouble, Mary; I cannot rest; and I have come to talk to you about it," said Lavinia, taking the sable boa from her neck and untying her bonnet-strings. "If things were to continue as they are now, I should die of it."Drawing a chair ne
- 461 After dinner Colonel Selby took his guests, the three ladies, into the little salon, which opened to Madame Podevin's bureau; for it was she who, French fas.h.i.+on, kept the bureau and all its accounts, not her husband. Whilst the coffee which the colon
- 460 "Yes," said Nancy, who had stepped to the window to read her letter, for it was a dark day, and stood there with her back to the room."And where is it?" demanded he."I gave it to Lavinia. I always give it to her."Captain Fennel glared at his wife fo
- 459 "Dear Miss Preen, it is only nonsense," she answered. "He will tell some one else the same next time." But she only so spoke to console me.A wild wish flashed into my mind--that I should ask the man to tell _my_ future. But had I not heard enough? Min
- 458 "Our magician has lost his divining-rod just when he needed it,"observed a gentleman with a grey beard, a stranger to me, who was standing opposite, speaking in a tone of ill-natured satire; and a laugh went round."It is not that," said the signor, ke
- 457 "Receives weekly!" echoed Lavinia."She owns some little houses which are let out in weekly tenements; an agent collects the rents, and brings her the money every Tuesday morning. She dresses in the shabbiest things sometimes, and does her own housework
- 456 Just for a few minutes Lavinia Preen did not understand this letter.What could it mean? Why had Colonel Selby written it to her? Then the truth flashed into her mind.Nancy (induced, of course, by Edwin Fennel) had gone with him to Colonel Selby, purportin
- 455 Lavinia sighed. She sat on a little while longer, and then took her departure.The shoe-shop on the port was opposite the place in the harbour where the London steamers were generally moored. The one now there was taking in cargo. As Lavinia was turning in
- 454 "I never thought they looked like people to be trusted," remarked Lavinia. "Dear me! here's the sun coming out again.""Where is your parasol?"Lavinia recounted her negligence in having left it at the shoe-mart.Captain Fennel had brought out a small
- 453 "Well," replied Mary Carimon uneasily, for she disliked to add to trouble, "you see the house is as much Ann's as yours. It was taken in your joint names. Ann has the right to return to it; and also, I suppose"--more dubiously--"to introduce her hus
- 452 Unconsciously perhaps to herself, her eyes were fixed on Charles. He thought the question was put to him, and answered it."Well--I--I'm afraid it looks like it, as she seems to have said nothing to you," he slowly said. "But I give you my word, Miss P
- 451 "I thought you had left Sainteville, Mr. Fennel," she remarked, meeting his hand and the sinister look in his face unwillingly."Got back this morning," he said; "travelled by night. Shall be leaving again to-day or to-morrow. How are _you_, Miss Nanc
- 450 Lavinia, on the contrary, was not. The moment she saw his full face she shrank from it--shrank from him. The feeling might have been as unaccountable as that which came over her when she had been first entering the Pet.i.te Maison Rouge; but it was there.
- 449 The sun was very bright that day, and the confined yard did not look so dull as at a less favourable time; and perhaps the brilliant red of the little house, at which Nancy laughed, imparted a cheerfulness to it.Monsieur Gustave opened the door with a lat
- 448 Johnny Ludlow.Fifth Series.by Mrs. Henry Wood.FEATHERSTON'S STORY.I.I have called this Featherston's story, because it was through him that I heard about it--and, indeed, saw a little of it towards the end.b.u.t.termead, the wide straggling district to
- 447 "Which I think was very pretty of them, Mr. Johnny," she said to me after dinner; "and I'm proud of standing to it.""It was in recompense for the worry I've given you, you dear old thing!"whispered Verena, as she pulled Mrs. Cramp's chair backwar
- 446 The doctor's visits were watched with the most intense interest; three times a-day at first, then twice a-day, then once; and then they ceased altogether."Black lady on her legs again?" says Ben Rymer, meeting Cole about this time. "Quite so," answer
- 445 "I hope so," answered Ben. "You look fluttered, Mrs. Cramp.""I'm more fluttered than I care to be; I am living in a chronic state of flutter," avowed Mrs. Cramp. "It's over that tenant of mine; that woman down yonder," pointing towards North Vil
- 444 "But what is it that people have been saying, Mrs. Cramp?" struck in the Squire. "These boys have heard something or other.""What's said is, that there's something queer about the lady," replied Mrs. Cramp. "I can't make it out myself, Squire. S
- 443 The disparagement did not affect William Lake. He proved as indefatigable as Rector as he had been as curate, earning the golden opinions he deserved. And he and his wife were happy.But he would persist in declaring that all the good which had come to him
- 442 "You are not affronted at my disclosing all this so fully, Miss Deveen?"he asked, misled by her silence. "I wished to----""Affronted!" she interposed. "Nay, how could I be? I am lost in the deep sympathy I feel--with you and with Emily Gibson. What
- 441 "This way, ma'am," said the young man who had marshalled us up."Invalid-chairs," he called out, turning us over to another young man, who came forward--and shot downstairs again himself.Cattledon picked her way in and out amidst the things, I followi
- 440 I need not have feared. It was a very short sermon, the services had been so long, but wonderfully beautiful. You might have heard a pin drop in the church, and old Brandon himself never stirred hand or foot.At the end of the pew sat he, I next to him; hi
- 439 William Lake sat, the picture of astonishment, wondering whether his ears were playing him false."_I!_" he exclaimed, scarcely above his breath. "I never thought of myself. I can hardly believe--believe--pardon me, Sir Robert--is there no mistake?""N
- 438 "Yes, sir." And the man showed me into a room where Lady Tenby sat, teaching her little boy to walk.She was just the same kind and simple-mannered woman that she had been as Anne Lewis. Putting both her hands into mine, she said how glad she was to see
- 437 Mrs. Topcroft came in, turning down her sleeves at the wrist; a little woman, quite elderly. I liked her the moment I saw her. She was homely and motherly, with the voice and manners of a lady."I came to bring Emma the silks, and to see how the work was
- 436 "It contains the patterns of some sewing silks that I want to get," she added to me, as we stood waiting on the door-steps. "If----"At that moment, out burst the ting-tang. Miss Deveen suddenly broke off what she was saying, and turned to look at the
- 435 Every morning she went through the ceremony of asking whether she was wanted, before attiring herself for church."Not I," cried Miss Deveen, with a half-smile. "Go, and welcome, Jemima!"I stood at the window listening to the ting-tang: the bell of St.
- 434 "We should be so glad if you would come," I added, after giving the message. "Mrs. Todhetley says you make yourself too much of a stranger.Will you come this evening?"He shook his head slightly, clasping my hand the while, his own feeling like a burni
- 433 And there's nothing more to add to this digression. Except that Kettie died.The tidings did not appear to affect Hyde Stockhausen. All his thoughts were given to his wife and child. Old Abel had never reproached him by as much as a word: if by chance the
- 432 "I tell you that I do not know anything of her. You must be mad to think it. Get along with you!""Hyde Stockhausen, you lie. _You do know where she is; you know that it is with you she has been._ Heaven hears me say it: deny it if you dare."His face l
- 431 It is not I who shall work it. I only see it--and foretell it.""Nay, why speak so strangely, Ketira? It cannot be that you----""Abel Carew, talk not to me of matters that you do not understand,"she interrupted. "I know what I know. Things that I am
- 430 "This day week.""This day week!" echoed the Squire, surprised: and Hyde, who seemed to have spoken incautiously, looked vexed."I did not intend to say as much; my thoughts were elsewhere," he observed. "Don't mention it again, Mr. Todhetley. Even
- 429 "Well, you have only to tell them you don't in an honest manner; I dare say they'll believe you. Abel Carew is one of the most reasonable men I ever knew; sensible, too. Try and find the child yourself; help them to do it, if you can see a clue; make c
- 428 Ketira brushed against me as she pa.s.sed, taking no notice whatever; left the garden, and limped away. Hyde saw me swinging through the gate."Are you there, Johnny?" he said, coming forward. "Did you hear that old gipsy woman?" And in a few words I t
- 427 "Well, look here, Mrs. Preen," said he. "Some of us are going to fish in the long pond on Mr. Jacobson's grounds to-morrow: tell Mr. Hyde that if he would like to join us, I shall be happy to see him. Breakfast, half-past eight o'clock; sharp."In tu
- 426 "I know not," she replied, her eyes taking again their dreamy, far-off look. "Woe is me!--for I know it not.""How do you do, Ludlow? Not here alone, are you?"A good-looking young fellow, Hyde Stockhausen, had reined in his horse to ask the question:
- 425 "Why, in supplying those ill-doing Standishes with your substance.Herbs, and honey, and medicine--they are always getting something or other out of you.""But they generally _need_ it, sir.""Well, they don't deserve it, you know. The Squire went into
- 424 Roger glanced round. He did not dare ask whether Harriet knew she was gone back, or only supposed it.Mary laughed. "Fond of life, is she?""She always was, Miss Mary. She is married to a gentleman. At least, that is her account of him: he is a medical m
- 423 He gave a start as the door was flung open. It was only Harriet, with the tea-tray and candles. We had dined early. George, the clergyman, was expected in the evening, and Lady Bevere thought it would be more sociable if we all took supper with him. Totta
- 422 "Yes, it's me. I thought I'd come over and see you. That old man was polite though, to leave me standing here.""But where have you come from? And why are you so late?""Oh, I'm staying at Brighton; came down on the spree yesterday. I'm late becaus
- 421 "You might well say that if you knew all," returned Scott. "She drinks like a fish. Like a fish, I a.s.sure you. Twice over she has had a shaking-fit of three days' duration--I suppose you take me, Ludlow--had to be watched in her bed; the last time w
- 420 "Good-night, Roger."III.People say you can never sleep well in a strange bed. I know I did not sleep well, but very badly, that first night at Lady Bevere's. It was not the fault of the bed, or of its strangeness; it was Roger's trouble haunting me.He
- 419 Brandon did not much like the signs either, to judge by the way he stared at him."Have you been well lately, Roger?""Oh yes, thank you, Uncle John.""Well, your looks don't say much for you.""I am rather hard-worked," said Roger. "London is not a
- 418 "Now come, sir," she said, "let us talk comfortable: you won't mind giving me your opinion, I dare say. I have looked out for an opportunity to ask it: you being what you are, sir, and his good friend. Them two--they don't hit it off well together, d
- 417 I had no heart affection that I was aware of, but I had to press my hand to still its thumping as I leaned over Roger."Really married? Surely married?""As fast and sure as the registrar could marry us," came the smothered answer. "We did not go to ch
- 416 Scott finished dressing the arm, giving the patient sundry cautions meanwhile; and I got up to leave. Lizzie had stepped outside and was leaning over the little wooden entrance-gate, chanting a song to herself and gazing up and down the quiet road."What
- 415 "Can you give me the address of Mr. Roger Bevere?" I asked of this younger one.The girl flushed scarlet, and looked at her companion, who looked back again. It was a curious sort of look, as much--I thought--as to say, what are we to do? Then they both
- 414 Pitt, who had undertaken to see him into them. He had the parlour and the bed-chamber behind it. Very nice rooms they were, the locality and street open and airy; and the landlady, Mrs. Long, was a comfortable, motherly woman. Where his old lodgings had b
- 413 "Came to see how you were getting on, friend," was the light and soothing answer, as the stranger drew near the bed. "Head and arm damaged, I hear.""Who told you where to find me?""Scott. At least, he----""Scott's a false knave then! He promised
- 412 "Was anything ever _seen_ in the room, Miss Gay?""Nothing," she answered, "or heard either; nothing whatever. The room is as nice a room as could be wished for in all respects, light, large, cheerful, and airy; and yet n.o.body can get to sleep in it
- 411 "No, never. But I know those who have seen them; and I cannot disbelieve what they say. One such story in particular is often in my mind; it was a very strange one.""Won't you tell it us, Mr. Featherston?"The doctor only laughed in answer. But after
- 410 He shook his head. "I have been nothing of the kind, Johnny. But look here: I hardly see what I am to do. I cannot go on like this without sleep; yet, if I tell the mother again, she'll say the air of the place does not suit me and run away from it----
- 409 "Not a wink all night long," added John. "I can't think what was the matter with me."Susannah, then stooping to take the sugar-basin out of the side-board, rose, turned sharply round and fixed her eyes on John. So curious an expression was on her fac
- 408 Remarking that his time was up, for a patient waited for him, and that he must leave us to settle the question, Featherston took his departure.But it appeared to be settled already."Johnny can go," spoke up the Squire. "The loss of a fortnight's lesso
- 407 "You will know where to find it when I am gone," he said. "I wish some one of you to read it aloud, after the funeral, to those a.s.sembled here.When my will shall have been read, then read this."On the third day after this, at evening, Sir Dace Fonta
- 406 "It's more than I do now. Or Johnny, either. Look at him!""When Mrs. John Tanerton brought to us that accusation of Sir Dace, on the strength of her dream," began Chandler, after glancing at me, "I thought she must have turned a little crazy. It was
- 405 Captain Tanerton did not adopt her views. He shook his head, and said Sir Dace it _could not_ have been. Sir Dace was at his house in the Marylebone Road at the very hour the calamity happened off Tower Hill.I followed suit, hearing out Jack's word. Was
- 404 "Jack, were I you, I should stand up in the face and eyes of all the world, and say to them, 'Before G.o.d, I did not kill Pym.' People would believe you then. But you don't do it.""I have my reasons for not doing it, Johnny Ludlow. G.o.d knows what
- 403 "Is he ill?""He must be ill. Sauntering down that narrow lane by Maythorn Bank, I came upon a tall something mooning along like a walking shadow. I might have taken it for a shadow, but that it lifted its bent head, and threw its staring eyes straight
- 402 Saying good-morning at the turning, Sir Dace and Verena branched off to Maythorn Bank. Coralie lingered yet, talking with Mr. Todhetley."My dear, how ill your father is looking!" exclaimed the Squire."He does look ill," answered Coralie. "He has neve
- 401 "Yes, it is," sighed Jack."The s.h.i.+p's gone without you, I hear.""She had to go. s.h.i.+ps cannot be delayed to await the convenience of one man: you must know that, Herbert.""How came you to do it, John?""To do what?" asked Jack. "To stay?
- 400 "Yesterday was the day Jack was to sail," interrupted Tod."Of course it was," acquiesced the Rector: "he must be half-way down the channel by this time. If---- Here comes Alice!" he broke off. "I shall go. I don't want to hear more of such stuff.
- 399 "They have been singularly verified. The man has been murdered.""Not on board the _Rose of Delhi_.""No. Off it.""I should rather call it death by misadventure," said Jack, looking calmly at the broker. "At the worst, done in a scuffle; possibly i
- 398 "What time was this?" interrupted Mr. Freeman."About half-past four, I fancy, sir. Mr. Pym spoke rather thick--I saw he had been taking a gla.s.s. He bade me make him a big potful of strong tea--which I did at once, having the kettle on the fire. He dr
- 397 "Why! that clock must have stopped!"Chancing to look at it by-and-by, I saw that it stood at the same time--twenty minutes to ten. I took out my watch. It said just ten minutes past ten."What does it signify?" said Coralie. "You can stay here till tw
- 396 "Then--did no quarrel take place, sir?" cried Ferrar, thinking of the landlady's story."Not an angry word."At this moment, as they were turning into s.h.i.+p Street, Saxby, who seemed completely off his head, ran full tilt against Ferrar. It was all
- 395 Mr. Pym had come in that afternoon, said his landlady, Mrs. Richenough, and startled her out of her seven senses; for, knowing the s.h.i.+p had left with the day's tide, she had supposed Mr. Pym to be then off Gravesend, or thereabouts. He told her the s
- 394 "Yes, sir," replied the steward. But he did not obey with the readiness exacted on board s.h.i.+p. He hesitated, as if wanting to say something before turning away.No Pym came. Jack grew impatient, and called out an order or two. Young Saxby came up, to
- 393 And, as the days went on, bringing no tidings of Verena, Sir Dace Fontaine grew angry as a raging tiger.When a s.h.i.+p is going out of dock, she is more coquettish than a beauty in her teens. Not in herself, but in her movements. Advertised to sail to-da
- 392 "It is the same," said Jack. "I have heard his history. One of his especial favourites is Mr. Johnny Ludlow.""How strange!--strange that he should be in your s.h.i.+p! Does he do well?Is he a good sailor?""First-rate. Ferrar is really a superior yo
- 391 "Papa, I will go and see. I am sure Verena cannot be out; I am sure she is _not_. She went into her room to dress when I went into mine. She came to me while she was dressing asking me to lend her my pearl comb; she had just broken one of the teeth of he
- 390 In making this promise, Miss Verena Fontaine probably did not understand the demands on a chief mate's time when a s.h.i.+p is getting ready for sea.To rush up from the docks at the mid-day hour, and rush back again in time for work, was not practicable.
- 389 "Can I see Mrs. Ball?" asked Pym, after mentally anathematizing servants in general, black and white. "Is she at home?""Yes, sir, and she'll see you, I'm sure. She is vexed at their having left."He dropped the half-crown into the girl's hand, ret
- 388 Betty produced a card from her innermost pocket, and showed it to Mr.Pym: who carefully copied down the address.That he was on his way to Timberdale Rectory, was _not_ a ruse. He went on there through the Ravine at the top of his speed, and asked for Capt
- 387 Which might be all very well; but I thought it would be more to the purpose could she have read it in Pym's. Pym's was a handsome face, but not one to be trusted.She glided into the room behind Thomas and his big tea-tray, seized upon a cup at once, and
- 386 "You spoke as if you did not like him, Jack.""Don't like him at all," said Jack. "My own chief mate left me in Calcutta, to better himself, as the saying runs; he got command of one of our s.h.i.+ps whose master had died out there; Pym presented him
- 385 "And Edward was the son of Captain Pym's first wife, papa's sister.Then, in point of fact, he is not related to Mrs. Letsom at all. Well, it all happened ages ago," added Coralie, with supreme indifference, "long before our time."Just so. Edward Pym
- 384 Tod! The two girls were about the most self-possessed girls I ever saw; their manners quite American. Not their accent: that was good. Major Letsom and Sir Dace fraternized wonderfully: they discovered that they had once met in the West Indies.After dinne
- 383 Timberdale Rectory basked to-day in the morning sun. It shone upon Grace, the Rector's wife, as she sat in the bow-window of their usual sitting-room, making a child's frock. Having no little ones of her own to work for--and sometimes Timberdale thought
- 382 "_I_ can't supply it; you know I can't. I am not able to pay my own way now. Let her write to Mrs. Cramp.""It would be of no use, mamma. Aunt Mary Ann will never help us to clothes. She says we have had too many of them.""Well, I don't want to be
- 381 "Who is the young lady? Your cousin Julietta?"Tom burst into laughter. "No, that it is not, sir.""Perhaps it is Miss Maceveril? Well, the Maceverils are exclusive people. But faint heart, you know, never won fair lady."Tom shook his head. "I should