

Transcribed from the 1907 T. Fisher Unwin edition by David Price, email
ccx074@pglaf.org

                          [Picture: Book cover]





                              CLARA HOPGOOD


                                    BY
                             MARK RUTHERFORD

                           EDITED BY HIS FRIEND
                             REUBEN SHAPCOTT

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                            _THIRD IMPRESSION_

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                                  LONDON
                             T. FISHER UNWIN
                             ADELPHI TERRACE

_First Edition_          _March_ 1896
_Second Impression_       _June_ 1896
_Third Impression_        _July_ 1907

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                          _All rights reserved_

                                * * * * *




CHAPTER I


ABOUT ten miles north-east of Eastthorpe lies the town of Fenmarket, very
like Eastthorpe generally; and as we are already familiar with
Eastthorpe, a particular description of Fenmarket is unnecessary.  There
is, however, one marked difference between them.  Eastthorpe, it will be
remembered, is on the border between the low uplands and the Fens, and
has one side open to soft, swelling hills.  Fenmarket is entirely in the
Fens, and all the roads that lead out of it are alike level, monotonous,
straight, and flanked by deep and stagnant ditches.  The river, also,
here is broader and slower; more reluctant than it is even at Eastthorpe
to hasten its journey to the inevitable sea.  During the greater part of
the year the visitor to Fenmarket would perhaps find it dull and
depressing, and at times, under a grey, wintry sky, almost unendurable;
but nevertheless, for