COMPLETE WORKS OF ELIZABETH GASKELL
(Worldwide Bestseller)
All the Works of Elizabth Gaskell in their Complete, Unabridged, Definitive Edition for Nook
Includes MARY BARTON, CRANFORD, NORTH AND SOUTH, WIVES AND DAUGHTERS, BIOGRAPHY OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE and MORE
EXCERPT
"He paused. Margaret went very white, and compressed her lips a little more. Otherwise not a feature moved. With the quick insight into character, without which no medical man can rise to the eminence of Dr. Donaldson, he saw that she would exact the full truth; that she would know if one iota was withheld; and that the withholding would be torture more acute than the knowledge of it. He spoke two short sentences in a low voice, watching her all the time; for the pupils of her eyes dilated into a black horror and the whiteness of her complexion became livid. He ceased speaking. He waited for that look to go off,—for her gasping breath to come. Then she said:—
'I thank you most truly, sir, for your confidence. That dread has haunted me for many weeks. It is a true, real agony. My poor, poor mother!' her lips began to quiver, and he let her have the relief of tears, sure of her power of self-control to check them.
A few tears—those were all she shed, before she recollected the many questions she longed to ask.
'Will there be much suffering?'
He shook his head. 'That we cannot tell. It depends on constitution; on a thousand things. But the late discoveries of medical science have given us large power of alleviation.'
'My father!' said Margaret, trembling all over.
'I do not know Mr. Hale. I mean, it is difficult to give advice. But I should say, bear on, with the knowledge you have forced me to give you so abruptly, till the fact which I could not with-hold has become in some degree familiar to you, so that you may, without too great an effort, be able to give what comfort you can to your father. Before then,—my visits, which, of course, I shall repeat from time to time, although I fear I can do nothing but alleviate,—a thousand little circumstances will have occurred to awaken his alarm, to deepen it—so that he will be all the better prepared.—Nay, my dear young lady—nay, my dear—I saw Mr. Thornton, and I honour your father for the sacrifice he has made, however mistaken I may believe him to be.—Well, this once, if it will please you, my dear. Only remember, when I come again, I come as a friend. And you must learn to look upon me as such, because seeing each other—getting to know each other at such times as these, is worth years of morning calls.' Margaret could not speak for crying: but she wrung his hand at parting."
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MARY BARTON
RUTH
NORTH AND SOUTH
SYLVIA'S LOVERS
WIVES AND DAUGHTERS
ROGER HAMLEY’S CONFESSION
THE MOORLAND COTTAGE
MR. HARRISON'S CONFESSIONS
THE POOR CLARE
MY LADY LUDLOW
LOIS THE WITCH
A DARK NIGHT'S WORK
COUSIN PHILLIS
LIBBIE MARSH’S THREE ERAS
- VALENTINE’S DAY.
- WHITSUNTIDE.
- MICHAELMAS.
THE SEXTON'S HERO
CHRISTMAS STORMS AND SUNSHINE.
HAND AND HEART
THE WELL OF PEN-MORFA
MARTHA PRESTON
THE HEART OF JOHN MIDDLETON
THE DESERTED MANSION
THE SHAH'S ENGLISH GARDENER
THE OLD NURSE’S STORY
BESSY’S TROUBLES AT HOME.
THE SQUIRE'S STORY
BRAN
THE SCHOLAR'S STORY
HOUSEHOLD WORDSMORTON HALL
MY FRENCH MASTER
UNCLE PETER
COMPANY MANNERS
LIZZIE LEIGH
HALF A LIFE-TIME AGO
AN ACCURSED RACE
A VISIT TO ETON
RIGHT AT LAST
THE MANCHESTER MARRIAGE
THE DOOM OF THE GRIFFITHS
THE CROOKED BRANCH
ROUND THE SOFA.
THE HALF-BROTHERS
A FEAR FOR THE FUTURE
CURIOUS, IF TRUE
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM RICHARD WHITTINGHAM, ESQ.
THE GREY WOMAN
SIX WEEKS AT HEPPENHEIM
SHAMS
AN ITALIAN INSTITUTION
THE CAGE AT CRANFORD
CROWLEY CASTLE
SOME PASSAGES FROM THE HISTORY OF THE CHOMLEY FAMILY
TWO FRAGMENTS OF GHOST STORIES
SKETCHES AMONG THE POOR, NO. 1
CLOPTON HALL
THE LAST GENERATION IN ENGLAND
DISAPPEARANCES
CUMBERLAND SHEEP SHEARERS
TRAITS AND STORIES OF THE HUGUENOTS
MODERN GREEK SONGS
THE LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE
FRENCH LIFE
