Mortomley’s Estate: A Novel (Volumes 1-3)

Mortomley’s Estate: A Novel by Mrs. Riddell, author Of “George Geith,” “Too Much Alone,” “Home, Sweet Home,” “The Earl’s Promise,” Etc. Etc., In Three Volumes, Volumes 1-3

CONTENTS
Dedication
Volume 1
Chapter 1. Introduces Mr. Asherill to the Reader.
Chapter 2. A Very Wet Saturday.
Chapter 3. For Mercies Vouchsafed.
Chapter 4. Summer Days.
Chapter 5. About Mrs. Mortomley and Others.
Chapter 6. Mrs. Mortomley is Advised for Her Good.
Chapter 7. Lenore.
Chapter 8. A Dead Faint.
Chapter 9. The First Mutterings of the Storm.
Chapter 10. Mr. Forde Takes His Hat.
Chapter 11. Rupert Speaks Very Plainly.
Chapter 12. The Same Day at Homewood.
Chapter 13. Mortomley’s Friends.
Chapter 14. Kleinwort is Sympathetic.
Volume 2
Chapter 1. Mr. Forde at Homewood.
Chapter 2. Kleinwort and Co. in Consultation.
Chapter 3. Mr. Dean and His Future Relatives.
Chapter 4. Prevision.
Chapter 5. Mr. Dean Glorifies Himself.
Chapter 6. Mr. Gibbons’ Opinion on the State of Affairs.
Chapter 7. Straws.
Chapter 8. Mr. Swanland Stirs His Tea.
Chapter 9. In the ‘Times.’
Chapter 10. Mr. Swanland Wishes to be Informed.
Chapter 11. Mrs. Mortomley’s Fortune.
Chapter 12. Leaving Homewood.
Chapter 13. Dolly Writes a Letter.
Chapter 14. The Beginning of a New Life.
Chapter 15. Mr. Forde Makes a Mistake.
Volume 3
Chapter 1. The Meeting of Creditors.
Chapter 2. One Friend Most Faithful.
Chapter 3. What Mr. Lang Thought.
Chapter 4. Mortomley’s Blue.
Chapter 5. Mr. Swanland’s Crumpled Rose-Leaf.
Chapter 6. Sauve Qui Peut.
Chapter 7. Mortomley Understands at Last.
Chapter 8. Mr. Werner Asks a Favour.
Chapter 9. The New Yellow.
Chapter 10. A Broken Reed.
Chapter 11. Two Unwelcome Visitors.
Chapter 12. Mrs. Mortomley Breaks the News.
Chapter 13. Sad Confidences.
Chapter 14. What Rupert Had Done.
Chapter 15. Mr. Asherill Is Persuaded.
Chapter 16. Conclusion.

Volume 1
Chapter 1. Introduces Mr. Asherill to the Reader.
During the course of the last ten or at most fifteen years, a new class of building has, mushroom like, sprung up in the Metropolis, which cannot perhaps better be described in a sentence than as

“The City of London Offices” (Limited).

True, none of the “Houses,” “Chambers,” “Halls,” “Buildings” that swell the ranks of this new army of offices, are so far as I know called by the above name, but they are all situated within the precincts of the City; they have been promoted by City men, they all belong to Limited Companies or to the liquidators of those Companies, and they all resemble each other more or less--more indeed rather than less.

They are to be met with in various lanes, alleys, streets, and courts. So far as a casual observer can see, they are principally remarkable for an utter absence of comfort. They possess longer corridors, smaller rooms, steeper and more unpromising stone staircases than any other class of building, Newgate not excepted, east of Temple Bar.

So far as the mind can grasp, they are tenanted by a more wonderful race of men than Captain Cook discovered in the South Sea Islands, or Darwin conceived could ever have been eliminated from monkeys.

The windows are noticeable for having no front light, the edifices themselves are curious for the simple reason that they have been apparently built without the usual preliminaries of either architect or plan, while the men who during business hours inhabit the offices afford subject for the wildest speculation.
(Continued...)