JILTED!
OR,
MY UNCLE’S SCHEME.
JILTED!
OR,
MY UNCLE’S SCHEME.
A Novel, in Three Vols.
VOL. I.
London:
SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, LOW, & SEARLE,
CROWN BUILDINGS, FLEET STREET.
1875.
[All Rights Reserved.]
CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS,
CRYSTAL PALACE PRESS.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER I. | 1 |
| CHAPTER II. | 31 |
| CHAPTER III. | 54 |
| CHAPTER IV. | 90 |
| CHAPTER V. | 121 |
| CHAPTER VI. | 140 |
| CHAPTER VII. | 160 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | 199 |
JILTED!
OR,
MY UNCLE’S SCHEME.
MY UNCLE’S SCHEME.
CHAPTER I.
“It has been found hard to describe man by anadequate definition. Some philosophers have calledhim a reasonable animal; but others have consideredreason as a quality of which many creatures partake.He has been termed likewise a laughing animal; butit is said that some men have never laughed. Perhapsman may be more properly distinguished as an idleanimal.”—Dr. Johnson.
My father was a major in the army who,at the time this story begins, had lived inLongueville-sur-mer for fifteen years, towhich place he had come, after my mother’sdeath, bringing me with him. I was then[Pg 2]seven years old. He put me to a goodschool in the neighbourhood, at which Iremained until I was sixteen; and wasthen let free. Considering myself a man,I worked hard to grow a mustache, inwhich I very ignominiously failed; for itwas not until I was one-and-twenty thatnature condescended to favour me withthat very elegant and martial decoration.I also took to colouring meerschaum pipes,in which art, before I was nineteen, I wasconsidered by my companions to excel,though I did not succeed in establishingmy reputation in that line until I haddealt such an injury to my nervous systemas I fear I shall never recover. I alsobecame, before long, an expert hand atbilliards, though up to the last Bob LeMarchmont could always give me twentypoints and beat me comfortably. But I[Pg 3]was his bett