



Produced by Shaun Pinder and the Online Distributed
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                            ALICE LORRAINE:
                     _A TALE OF THE SOUTH DOWNS_.

                                  BY
                     RICHARD DODDRIDGE BLACKMORE,
           AUTHOR OF “THE MAID OF SKER,” “LORNA DOONE,” ETC.

                οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα,
                εἴτ’ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ’ ἐσθλῶν κακή.
                                                    SOPH. _Ant._

                      _NEW AND CHEAPER EDITION._

                                LONDON:
                    SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY,
                              _LIMITED_,
                         St. Dunstan’s House,
                    FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C.

                                 1893.

                                LONDON:
             PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
                  STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.

                                  To
                  PROFESSOR OWEN, C.B., F.R.S., &c.,
                     WITH THE WRITER’S GRATITUDE,
                   FOR WORDS OF TRUE ENCOURAGEMENT,
                      AND MANY ACTS OF KINDNESS,
                               This Work
                      MOST HEARTILY IS DEDICATED

                            _April, 1875._




CONTENTS.


     CHAPTER                                       PAGE
          I.--ALL IN THE DOWNS                        1
         II.--COOMBE LORRAINE                         3
        III.--LINEAGE AND LINEAMENTS                  5
         IV.--FATHER AND FAVOURITE                    7
          V.--THE LEGEND OF THE ASTROLOGER           11
         VI.--THE LEGEND CONTINUED                   14
        VII.--THE LEGEND CONCLUDED                   17
       VIII.--ASTROLOGICAL FORECAST                  20
         IX.--THE LEGACY OF THE ASTROLOGER           24
          X.--A BOY AND A DONKEY                     27
         XI.--CHAMBER PRACTICE                       35
        XII.--WITH THE COSTERMONGERS                 45
       XIII.--TO THE CHERRY-ORCHARDS                 49
        XIV.--BEAUTIES OF THE COUNTRY                55
         XV.--OH, RUDDIER THAN THE CHERRY!           59
        XVI.--OH, SWEETER THAN THE BERRY!            66
       XVII.--VERY SHY THINGS                        72
      XVIII.--THE KEY OF THE GATE                    78
        XIX.--FOUR YOUNG LADIES                      84
         XX.--A RECTOR OF THE OLDEN STYLE            92
        XXI.--A NOTABLE LADY                         96
       XXII.--A MALIGNANT CASE                      100
      XXIII.--THE BAITER BAITED                     105
       XXIV.--A FATHERLY SUGGESTION                 109
        XXV.--THE WELL OF THE SIBYL                 112
       XXVI.--AN OPPORTUNE ENVOY                    117
      XXVII.--A GOOD PARSON’S HOLIDAY               121
     XXVIII.--NOT TO BE RESISTED                    126
       XXIX.--ABSURD SURDS                          130
        XXX.--OUR LAD STEENIE                       135
       XXXI.--IN A MARCHING REGIMENT                139
      XXXII.--PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OPINION            144
     XXXIII.--RAGS AND BONES                        149
      XXXIV.--UNDER DEADLY FIRE                     157
       XXXV.--HOW TO FRY NO PANCAKES                161
      XXXVI.--LADY COKE UPON LITTLETON              166
     XXXVII.--ACHES _v._ ACRES                      172
    XXXVIII.--IN THE DEADLY BREACH                  177
      XXXIX.--SHERRY SACK                           183
         XL.--BENEATH BRIGHT EYES                   191
        XLI.--DONNAS PRAY AND PRACTISE              195
       XLII.--AN UNWELCOME ESCORT                   200
      XLIII.--IN AMONG THE BIG-WIGS                 209
       XLIV.--HOW TO TAKE BAD TIDINGS               216
        XLV.--INNOCENCE IN NO SENSE                 220
       XLVI.--HARD RIDING AND HARD READING          226
      XLVII.--TRY TO THINK THE BEST OF ME           234
     XLVIII.--SOMETHING WORTH KISSING               239
       XLIX.--A DANGEROUS COMMISSION                245
          L.--STERLING AND STRIKING AFFECTION       250
         LI.--EMPTY LOCKERS                         259
        LII.--BE NO MORE OFFICER OF MINE            264
       LIII.--FAREWELL, ALL YOU SPANISH LADIES      268
        LIV.--GOING UP THE TREE                     275
         LV.--THE WOEBURN                           281
        LVI.--GOING DOWN THE HILL                   290
       LVII.--THE PLEDGE OF A LIFE                  297
      LVIII.--A HERO’S RETURN                       304
        LIX.--THE GRAVE OF THE ASTROLOGER           312
         LX.--COURTLY MANNERS                       316
        LXI.--A SAMPLE FROM KENT                    322
       LXII.--A FAMILY ARRANGEMENT                  327
      LXIII.--BETTER THAN THE DOCTORS               332
       LXIV.--IMPENDING DARKNESS                    335
        LXV.--A FINE CHRISTMAS SERMON               341
       LXVI.--COMING DOWN IN EARNEST                344
      LXVII.--THE LAST CHANCE LOST                  348
     LXVIII.--THE DEATH-BOURNE                      353
       LXIX.--BOTTLER BEATS THE ELEMENTS            357
        LXX.--OH, HARO! HARO! HARO!                 361
       LXXI.--AN ARGUMENT REFUTED                   367
      LXXII.--ON LETHE’S WHARF                      370
     LXXIII.--POLLY’S DOLL                          374
      LXXIV.--FROM HADES’ GATES                     377
       LXXV.--SOMETHING LIKE A LEGACY               380
      LXXVI.--SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION                   385
     LXXVII.--HER HEART IS HIS                      387
    LXXVIII.--THE LAST WORD COMES FROM BONNY        390




ALICE LORRAINE.




CHAPTER I.

ALL IN THE DOWNS.


Westward of that old town Steyning, and near Washington and Wiston, the
lover of an English landscape may find much to dwell upon. The best way
to enjoy it is to follow the path along the meadows, underneath the
inland rampart of the Sussex hills. Here is pasture rich enough for
the daintiest sheep to dream upon; tones of varied green in stripes
(by order of the farmer), trees as for a portrait grouped, with the
folding hills behind, and light and shadow making love in play to one
another. Also, in the breaks of meadow and the footpath bendings,
stiles where love is made in earnest, at the proper time of year, with
the dark-browed hills imposing everlasting constancy.

Any man here, however sore he may be from the road of life, after
sitting awhile and gazing, finds the good will of his younger days
revive with a wider capacity. Though he hold no commune with