CRIPPS, THE CARRIER.

A WOODLAND TALE.

BYRICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,

1892



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER   PAGE
I. The Head of the Family 1
II. The Swing of the Pickaxe 7
III. Oakleaf Potatoes 14
IV. Cripps in a Quandary 21
V. A Ride through the Snow 24
VI. The Public of the "Public" 30
VII. The Best Foot foremost 37
VIII. Balderdash 43
IX. Cripps in Affliction 50
X. All dead against him 55
XI. Knocker versus Bell-pull 60
XII. Mr. John Smith 68
XIII. Mr. Smith is active 74
XIV. So is Mr. Sharp 79
XV. A Spotted Dog 85
XVI. A Grand Smock-frock 91
XVII. Installed at Brasenose 98
XVIII. A Flash of Light 104
XIX. A Stormy Night 110
XX. Cripps draws the Cork 120
XXI. Cinnaminta 127
XXII. A Delicate Subject 132
XXIII. Quite another Pair of Socks! 141
XXIV. Suo sibi baculo 149
XXV. Miss Patch 157
XXVI. Ruts 164
XXVII. Rats 173
XXVIII. Boots on 180
XXIX. A Spider's Dinner-party 190
XXX. The Fire-bell 198
XXXI. Throw Physic to the Dogs 206
XXXII. Cripps on Celibacy 214
XXXIII. Kit 223
XXXIV. A Woolhopian 230
XXXV. Nightingales 237
XXXVI. May Morn 242
XXXVII. May-Day 248
XXXVIII. The Dignity of the Family 259
XXXIX. A Tombstone 267
XL. Let me out 276
XLI. Reason and Unreason 284
XLII. Meeting the Coach 291
XLIII. The Motive 300
XLIV. The Manner 307
XLV. The Position 313
XLVI. In the Meshes 324
XLVII. Combined Wisdom 335
XLVIII. Masculine Error 342
XLIX. Prometheus Vinctus 351
L. Feminine Error 361
LI. Unfilial 367
LII. Unpaternal 375
LIII. "This will do" 386
LIV. Cripps brings home the Crown 391
LV. Smith to the Rescue 402
LVI. Fatal Accident to the Carrier 410






PERLYCROSS

A Tale Of The Western Hills

By R. D. Blackmore



CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. The Lap of Peace 1
II. Fairy Faith 6
III. The Lych-Gate 12
IV. Nicie 19
V. A Fair Bargain 28
VI. Doctors Three 37
VII. R. I. P. 48
VIII. The Potato-Field 57
IX. The Narrow Path 66
X. In Charge 73
XI. At the Charge 80
XII. A Fool's Errand 87
XIII. The Law of The Land 101
XIV. Reasoning without Reason 109
XV. Friends and Foes 118
XVI. Little Billy 128
XVII. Camelias 139
XVIII. Concussion 149
XIX. Percussion 161
XX. Discussion 172
XXI. Blackmarsh 184
XXII. Fireship and Galleon 197
XXIII. A Magic Letter 211
XXIV. A Wager 225
XXV. A Sermon in Stone 241
XXVI. The Old Mill 252
XXVII. Panic 263
XXVIII. Vagabonds 277
XXIX. Two Puzzles 291
XXX. Frankly Speaking 300
XXXI. A Great Prize 311
XXXII. Pleadings 321
XXXIII. The Schoolmaster Abroad 331
XXXIV. Loyalty 341
XXXV. A Wrestling Bout 352
XXXVI. A Fighting Bout 363
XXXVII. Gentle as a Lamb 374
XXXVIII. An Inland Run 384
XXXIX Needful Returns 394
XL Home and Foreign 406
XLI The Pride of Life 416
XLII His Last Bivouac 426
XLIII Two Fine Lessons 435
XLIV And One still Finer 445






THE MAID OF SKER.

By R. D. Blackmore



CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I.   FISHERMAN DAVY A FISH OUT OF WATER,   1
II.   HUNGER DRIVES HIM A-FISHING,   3
III.   THE FISH ARE AS HUNGRY AS HE IS,   7
IV.   HE LANDS AN UNEXPECTED FISH,   12
V.   A LITTLE ORPHAN MERMAID,   15
VI.   FINDS A HOME OF SOME SORT,   21
VII.   BOAT VERSUS BARDIE,   27
VIII.   CHILDREN WILL BE CHILDREN,   32
IX.   SANDHILLS TURNED TO SAND-HOLES,   38
X.   UNDER THE ROCK,   44
XI.   A WRECKER WRECKED,   49
XII.   HOW TO SELL FISH,   57
XIII.   THE CORONER AND THE CORONET,   64
XIV.   IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EVIDENCE,   70
XV.   A VERDICT ON THE JURY,   76
XVI.   TRUTH LIES SOMETIMES IN A WELL,   81
XVII.   FOR A LITTLE CHANGE OF AIR,   89
XVIII.   PUBLIC APPROBATION,   97
XIX.   A CRAFT BEYOND THE LAW,   106
XX.   CONFIDENTIAL INTERCOURSE,   112
XXI.   CROSS-EXAMINATION,   119
XXII.   ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT,   125
XXIII.   INTO GOOD SOCIETY,   131
XXIV.   SOUND INVESTMENTS,   137
XXV.   A LONG GOOD-BYE,   145
XXVI.   BRAUNTON BURROWS,   151
XXVII.   A FINE SPECTACLE,   158
XXVIII.   SOMETHING ABOUT HIM,   164
XXIX.   A VISIT TO A PARSON,   171
XXX.   ON DUTY,   182
XXXI.   TWO LOVERS,   189
XXXII.   AMONG THE SAVAGES,   194
XXXIII.   IN A STATE OF NATURE,   203
XXXIV.   WAITING AND LEARNING,   212
XXXV.   THE POLITE FERRYMAN,   220
XXXVI.   UNDER FAIRER AUSPICES,   227
XXXVII.   TWO POOR CHILDREN,   234
XXXVII.   A FINE OLD GENTLEMAN,   241
XXXIX.   NOTICE TO QUIT,   250
XL.   FORCIBLE EJECTMENT,   257
XLI.   THE RIGHT MAN IN THE RIGHT PLACE,   267
XLII.   THE LITTLE MAID AND THE MIDSHIPMAN,   276
XLIII.   A FINE PRICE FOR BARDIE,   283
XLIV.   PROVIDES FOR EDUCATION,   292
XLV.   INTRODUCES A REAL HERO,   298
XLVI.   AFTER SEVEN YEARS,   305
XLVII.   MISCHIEF IN A HOUSEHOLD,   312
XLVIII.   A BREATHLESS DISINTERMENT,   320
XLIX.   ONE WHO HAS INTERRED HIMSELF,   327
L.   A BRAVE MAN RUNS AWAY,   334
LI.   TRIPLE EDUCATION,   341
LII.   GREAT MARCH OF INTELLECT,   347
LIII.   BEATING UP FOR THE NAVY,   356
LIV.   TAMING OF THE SAVAGES,   368
LV.   UPON FOREIGN SERVICE,   374
LVI.   EXILES OF SOCIETY,   380
LVII.   MANY WEAK MOMENTS,   387
LVIII.   MORE HASTE, LESS SPEED,   398
LIX.   IN A ROCKY BOWER,   403
LX.   NELSON AND THE NILE,   411
LXI.   A SAVAGE DEED,   415
LXII.   A RASH YOUNG CAPTAIN,   421
LXIII.   POLLY AT HOME,   430
LXIV.   SUSAN QUITE ACQUITS HERSELF,   438
LXV.   SO DOES POOR OLD DAVY,   447
LXVI.   THE MAID AT LAST IS "DENTIFIED,"   453
LXVII.   DOG EATS DOG,   458
LXVIII.   THE OLD PITCHER AT THE WELL AGAIN,   465