Historical Fiction
The tale of the Surgeon's Daughter formed part of the second series of Chronicles of the Canongate, published in 1827; but has been separated from the stories of the Highland Widow, &c., which it originally accompanied, and deferred to the close of this collection, for reasons...
The tale of the Surgeon's Daughter formed part of the second series of Chronicles of the Canongate, published in 1827; but has been separated from the stories of the Highland Wi...
2. Chapter 2“Um--yes--James may be called a reader in a sense; but I doubt there is little solid in his studies--poetry and plays, Mr. Croftangry, all nonsense--they set his head a-gadding...
3. Chapter 3He had just reached the door as Luckie Simson, one of the racers, arrived in the little area before it. She had got the start, and kept it, but at the expense, for the time, of...
4. Chapter 4“In a lucky time,” said Mr. Gray, “here comes the town-clerk.--You are very welcome, Mr. Lawford. Your opinion here is much wanted as a man of law, as well as of sense and human...
5. Chapter 5As the boy advanced towards his fourteenth year, Dr. Gray wrote a more elaborate account of his ward's character, acquirements, and capacity. He added that he did this for the p...
6. Chapter 6Each of the two had his especial partizans; for though the young men themselves lived in tolerable harmony together, yet, as usual in such cases, no one could approve of one of...
7. Chapter 7“She is a noble-hearted girl, Richard Middlemas; and for her frankness alone, even without her beauty and her good sense, deserves an emperor. I cannot express the graceful mode...
8. Chapter 8“What the devil is that you say, Dick, about marrying and giving in marriage?” replied his friend. “What can put it into the head of a gallant young fellow like you, just rising...
9. Chapter 9From this specimen of the most obdurate indifference, contrasted with the last excess of misery, Middlemas became satisfied how little could be made of an appeal to the humanity...
10. Chapter 10Windows were thrown open, fires reduced or discontinued, loads of bed-clothes removed, cooling drinks superseded mulled wine and spices. The sick-nurses cried out murder. Doctor...
11. Chapter 11She flew to a harpsichord which stood in the room, and, while the servant and master gazed on each other, as if doubting whether her senses were about to leave her entirely, she...
12. Chapter 12“Oh, Benoni! Oh, child of my sorrow!” said this interesting document, “why should the eyes of thy unhappy mother be about to obtain permission to look on thee, since her arms we...
13. Chapter 13Hartley looked in the same direction with the two who were speaking, and his eye was caught by a Semiramis-looking person, of unusual stature and amplitude, arrayed in a sort of...
14. Chapter 14“When I wished to see you in this manner, Mr. Hartley, and declined a communication in public, where we could have had less freedom of conversation, it was with the view of tell...
15. Chapter 15“If you desire to be personally righted in this matter,” said he at length, “you must apply to Leadenhall Street, where I suspect--betwixt ourselves--complaints are accumulating...
16. Chapter 16His youthful guide, who waited his return without, conducted him once more to his Khan, through by-paths which he could not have found out without pilotage. His thoughts were in...
17. Chapter 17“Hakim,” said Hyder, “thou shalt return with the Feringi woman, and with gold to compensate her injuries,--wherein the Begum, as is fitting, shall contribute a share. Do thou sa...