The Channings

The Channings: A Story [with
accents]

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Channings, by Mrs. Henry Wood
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Title: The Channings
Author: Mrs. Henry Wood
Release Date: October, 2005 [EBook #9192] [This file was first posted
on September 14, 2003]
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Language: English
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CHANNINGS ***

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THE CHANNINGS
A STORY
BY
MRS. HENRY WOOD
AUthor of "East Lynne," "Johnny Ludlow," etc.

TWO HUNDRED AND TENTH THOUSAND 1901

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER
I. THE INKED SURPLICE II. BAD NEWS III. CONSTANCE
CHANNING IV. NO HOLIDAY TO-DAY V. ROLAND YORKE VI.
LADY AUGUSTA YORKE AT HOME VII. MR. KETCH VIII. THE
ASSISTANT-ORGANIST IX. HAMISH'S CANDLES X. A FALSE
ALARM XI. THE CLOISTER KEYS XII. A MISHAP TO THE
BISHOP XIII. MAD NANCE XIV. KEEPING OFFICE XV. A
SPLASH IN THE RIVER XVI. MUCH TO ALTER XVII. SUNDAY
MORNING AT MR. CHANNING'S, AND AT LADY AUGUSTA'S
XVIII. MR. JENKINS ALIVE AGAIN XIX. THE LOSS XX. THE
LOOMING OF AN AWFUL FEAR XXI. MR. BUTTERBY XXII. AN
INTERRUPTED DINNER XXIII. AN ESCORT TO THE
GUILDHALL XXIV. THE EXAMINATION XXV. A MORNING
CALL XXVI. CHECKMATED XXVII. A PIECE OF PREFERMENT
XXVIII. AN APPEAL TO THE DEAN XXIX. A TASTE OF "TAN"
XXX. THE DEPARTURE XXXI. ABROAD XXXII. AN OMINOUS
COUGH XXXIII. NO SENIORSHIP FOR TOM CHANNING XXXIV.

GERALD YORKE MADE INTO A "BLOCK" XXXV. THE EARL
OF CARRICK XXXVI. ELLEN HUNTLEY XXXVII. THE
CONSPIRATORS XXXVIII. THE DECISION XXXIX. THE GHOST
XL. MR. KETCH'S EVENING VISIT XLI. THE SEARCH XLII. AN
OFFICIAL CEREMONY INTERRUPTED XLIII. DRAGGING THE
RIVER XLIV. MR. JENKINS IN A DILEMMA XLV. A NEW
SUSPICION XLVI. A LETTER FOR MR. GALLOWAY XLVII.
DARK CLOUDS XLVIII. MUFFINS FOR TEA XLIX. A CHÂTEAU
EN ESPAGNE L. REALLY GONE! LI. AN ARRIVAL IN A FLY LII.
A RELIC FROM THE BURIAL-GROUND LIII. THE RETURN
HOME LIV. "THE SHIP'S DROWNED" LV. NEWS FROM
ROLAND LVI. THE BROKEN PHIAL LVII. A GHOST AGAIN
LVIII. BYWATER'S DANCE LIX. READY LX. IN WHAT DOES IT
LIE?
I remember the gleams and glooms that dart Across the schoolboy's
brain; The song and the silence in the heart, That in part are prophecies,
and in part Are longings wild and vain. And the voice of that fitful song
Sings on and is never still: "A boy's will is the wind's will, And the
thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."
Strange to me now are the forms I meet When I visit the dear old town;
But the native air is pure and sweet, And the trees that o'ershadow each
well-known street, As they balance up and down, Are singing the
beautiful song, Are sighing and whispering still: "A boy's will is the
wind's will, And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts."

CHAPTER I
.
THE INKED SURPLICE.
The sweet bells of Helstonleigh Cathedral were ringing out in the
summer's afternoon. Groups of people lined the streets, in greater
number than the ordinary business of the day would have brought forth;
some pacing with idle steps, some halting to talk with one another,
some looking in silence towards a certain point, as far as the eye could

reach; all waiting in expectation.
It was the first day of Helstonleigh Assizes; that is, the day on which
the courts of law began their sittings. Generally speaking, the
commission was opened at Helstonleigh on a Saturday; but for some
convenience in the arrangements of the circuit, it was fixed this time for
Wednesday; and when those cathedral bells burst forth, they gave
signal that the judges had arrived and were entering the sheriff's
carriage, which had gone out to meet them.
A fine sight, carrying in it much of majesty, was the procession, as it
passed through the streets with its slow and stately steps; and although
Helstonleigh saw it twice a