The Small House at Allington

Serial originally published in the Cornhill Magazine, Sept. 1862 - April 1864. Illustration depicts Lily Dale, Bell Dale and Mrs. Mary Dale as in Chapter XLIV: 'When half-past eleven came, she was seated in a large easy chair over the drawing-room fire, with a little table by her side, on which a novel was lying. She had not opened her book that morning, and had been sitting for some time perfectly silent, with her eyes closed, and her watch in her hand. "Mamma," she said at last, "it is over now, I'm sure." "What is over, my dear?" "He has made that lady his wife. I hope God will bless them, and I pray that they may be happy." As she spoke these words, there was an unwonted solemnity in her tone which startled Mrs. Dale and Bell.'