The House by the Churchyard

by Sheridan Le Fanu

THE HOUSE BY THE CHURCH-YARD

by

J. SHERIDAN LE FANU

Author of 'Uncle Silas' and 'Torlogh O'brien'

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Dublin:
James Duffy and Co., Ltd. New York: The MacMillan Company.
1904.
Printed by Edmund Burke & Co., 61 & 62 Great Strand
Street, Dublin.

Contents

A Prologue	—being a dish of village chat
I.	—The rector's night-walk to his church
II.	—The nameless coffin
III.	—Mr. Mervyn in his inn
IV.	—The Fair-green of Palmerstown
V.	—How the Royal Artillery entertained some of th neighbours at dinner
VI.	—In which the minstrelsy proceeds
VII.	—Showing how two gentlemen may misunderstand one another without enabling the company to understand their quarrel
VIII.	—Relating how Doctor Toole and Captain Devereux wen on a moonlight errand
IX.	—How a squire was found for the knight of the ruefu countenance
X.	—The dead secret, showing how the fireworker prove to Puddock that Nutter had spied out the nakednes of the land
XI.	—Some talk about the haunted house—being, as I suppose only old woman's tales
XII.	—Some odd facts about the Tiled House—being a authentic narrative of the ghost of a hand
XIII.	—In which the rector visits the Tiled House and Doctor Toole looks after the Brass Castle
XIV.	—Relating how Puddock purged O'Flaherty's head— chapter which, it is hoped, no genteel person will read
XV.	—Æsculapius to the rescue
XVI.	—The ordeal by battle
XVII.	—Lieutenant Puddock receives an invitation and a ra over the knuckles
XVIII.	—Relating how the gentlemen sat over their claret and how Doctor Sturk saw a face
XIX.	—In which the gentlemen follow the ladies
XX.	—In which Mr. Dangerfield visits the church of Chapelizod and Zekiel Irons goes a-fishing
XXI.	—Relating among other things how Doctor Toole walked up to the Tiled House, and of his pleasant discourse wit Mr. Mervyn
XXII.	—Telling how Mr. Mervyn fared at Belmont, and of a pleasan little dejeuner by the margin of the Liffey
XXIII.	—Which concerns the grand dinner at the King's House, an who were there, and something of their talk, reveries disputes, and general jollity
XXIV.	—In which two young persons understand one another better perhaps, than ever they did before, without saying so
XXV.	—In which the sun sets, and the merry-making is kept u by candle-light in the King's House, and Lily receives warning which she does not comprehend
XXVI.	—Relating how the band of the Royal Irish Artillery played and, while the music was going on, how variously different people were moved
XXVII.	—Concerning the troubles and the shapes that began to gathe about Doctor Sturk
XXVIII.	—In which Mr. Irons recounts some old recollections abou the Pied-horse and the Flower de Luce
XXIX.	—Showing how poor Mrs. Macnamara was troubled an haunted too, and opening a budget of gossip
XXX.	—Concerning a certain woman in black
XXXI.	—Being a short history of the great battle of Belmont tha lasted for so many days, wherein the belligerents showe so much constancy and valour, and sometimes one sid and sometimes t'other was victorious
XXXII.	—Narrating how Lieutenant Puddock and Captain Devereu brewed a bowl of punch, and how they sang and discourse together
XXXIII.	—In which Captain Devereux's fiddle plays a prelude t 'Over the hills and far away'
XXXIV.	—In which Lilias hears a stave of an old song an there is a leave-taking beside the river
XXXV.	—In which Aunt Becky and Doctor Toole, in full blow with Dominick the footman, behind, visit Miss Lily a the Elms
XXXVI.	—Narrating how Miss Lilias visited Belmont, and saw strange cocked-hat in the shadow by the window
XXXVII.	—Showing how some of the feuds in Chapelizod ware fiercer, and others were solemnly condoned
XXXVIII.	—Dreams and troubles, and a dark look-out
XXXIX.	—Telling how Lilias Walsingham found two ladies awaiting her arrival at the Elms
XL.	—Of a messenger from Chapelizod vault who waited in the Tiled House for Mr. Mervyn
XLI.	—In which the rector comes home, and Lily speaks her mind, and time glides on, and Aunt Rebecca calls a the Elms
XLII.	—In which Doctor Sturk tries this way and that for a reprieve on the eve of execution
XLIII.	—Showing how Charles Nutter's blow descended, and what part the silver spectacles bore in the crisis
XLIV.	—Relating how, in the watches of the night, a vision came to Sturk, and his eyes were opened
XLV.	—Concerning a little rehearsal in Captain Cluffe's lodging and a certain confidence between Doctor Sturk and Mr Dangerfield
XLVI.	—The closet scene, with the part of Polonius omitted
XLVII.	—In which pale Hecate visits the Mills, and Charles Nutter Esq., orders tea
XLVIII.	—Swans on the water
XLIX.	—Swans in the water
L.	—Treating of some confusion, in consequence, in th club-room of the Phoenix and elsewhere, an of a hat that was picked up
LI.	—How Charles Nutter's tea, pipe, and tobacco-box wer all set out for him in the small parlour at th Mills, and how that night was passed in the hous by the church-yard
LII.	—Concerning a rouleau of guineas and the crac of a pistol
LIII.	—Relating after what fashion Doctor Sturk came home
LIV.	—In which Miss Magnolia and Doctor Toole, in different scenes, prove themselves Good Samaritans; and th great Doctor Pell mounts the stairs of the House by th Church-yard
LV.	—In which Doctor Toole, in full costume, stands upon th hearth-stone of the club, and illuminates the compan with his back to the fire
LVI.	—Doctor Walsingham and the Chapelizod Christians mee to the sound of the holy bell, and a vampire sits in th church
LVII.	—In which Doctor Toole and Mr. Lowe make a visit a the Mills, and recognise something remarkable whil there
LVIII.	—In which one of little Bopeep's sheep comes home again and various theories are entertained respecting Charle Nutter and Lieutenant Puddock
LIX.	—Telling How a Coach Drew Up at the Elms, and Two Fin Ladies, Dressed For the Ball, Stepped in.
LX.	—Being a Chapter of Hoops, Feathers, and Brilliants and Bucks And Fiddlers.
LXI.	—In Which the Ghosts of a By-gone Sin Keep Tryst.
LXII.	—Of a Solemn Resolution Which Captain Devereux Registere Among His Household Gods, With a Libation.
LXIII.	—In Which a Liberty Is Taken With Mr. Nutter's Name and Mr. Dangerfield Stands at the Altar.
LXIV.	—Being a Night Scene, in Which Miss Gertrude Chattesworth Being Adjured By Aunt Becky, Makes Answer.
LXV.	—Relating Some Awful News That Reached the Village and How Dr. Walsingham Visited Captain Richard Devereu at His Lodgings.
LXVI.	—Of a Certain Tempest That Arose and Shook th Captain's Spoons And Tea-cups; and How the Win Suddenly Went Down.
LXVII.	—In Which a Certain Troubled Spirit Walks.
LXVIII.	—How an Evening Passes at the Elms, and Dr. Toole Make a Little Excursion; and Two Choice Spirits Discourse and Hebe Trips in With The Nectar.
LXIX.	—Concerning a Second Hurricane That Raged in Captai Devereux's Drawing-room, and Relating How Mrs. Iron Was Attacked With a Sort Of Choking in Her Bed.
LXX.	—In Which an Unexpected Visitor Is Seen in th Cedar-parlour of The Tiled House, and the Story o Mr. Beauclerc and the 'flower de Luce' Begins T Be Unfolded.
LXXI.	—In Which Mr. Irons's Narrative Reaches Merton Moor.
LXXII.	—In Which the Apparition of Mr. Irons Is Swallowed i Darkness.
LXXIII.	—Concerning a Certain Gentleman, with a Black Patc Over His Eye, who made some Visits with a Lady in Chapelizod and its Neighbourhood.
LXXIV.	—In Which Doctor Toole, in His Boots, Visits Mr. Gamble and Sees an Ugly Client of That Gentleman's; an Something Crosses an Empty Room.
LXXV.	—How a Gentleman Paid a Visit at the Brass Castle, an There Read A Paragraph in an Old Newspaper.
LXXVI.	—Relating How the Castle Was Taken, and How Mistres Moggy Took Heart Of Grace.
LXXVII.	—In Which Irish Melody Prevails.
LXXVIII.	—In Which, While the Harmony Continues in Father Roach' Front Parlour, A Few Discords Are Introduced Elsewhere and Doctor Toole Arrives in The Morning With Marvellous Budget of News.
LXXIX.	—Showing How Little Lily's Life Began To Change Int a Retrospect; And How on a Sudden She Began To Fee Better.
LXXX.	—In Which Two Acquaintances Become, on a Sudden Marvellously Friendly In The Church-yard; and Mr Dangerfield Smokes a Pipe in the Brass Castle and Resolves That the Dumb Shall Speak.
LXXXI.	—In Which Mr. Dangerfield Receives a Visitor, and Make a Call.
LXXXII.	—In Which Mr. Paul Dangerfield Pays His Respects an Compliments At Belmont; Where Other Visitors Als Present Themselves
LXXXIII.	—In Which the Knight of the Silver Spectacles Makes th Acquaintance Of The Sage 'black Dillon,' and Confer With Him in His Retreat.
LXXXIV.	—In Which Christiana Goes Over; and Dan Loftu Comes Home.
LXXXV.	—In Which Captain Devereux Hears the News; and Mr Dangerfield Meets An Old Friend After Dinner.
LXXXVI.	—In Which Mr. Paul Dangerfield Mounts the Stairs of th House by The Church-yard, and Makes Some Arrangements.
LXXXVII.	—In Which Two Comrades Are Tete-a-tete in Their Ol Quarters, and Doctor Sturk's Cue Is Cut Off, and Consultation Commences.
LXXXVIII.	—In Which Mr. Moore the Barber Arrives, and the Medica Gentlemen Lock The Door.
LXXXIX.	—In Which a Certain Songster Treats the Company To Dolorous Ballad Whereby Mr. Irons Is Somewhat Moved.
XC.	—Mr. Paul Dangerfield Has Something on His Mind, an Captain Devereux Receives a Message.
XCI.	—Concerning Certain Documents Which Reached Mr. Mervyn and the Witches' Revels at the Mills.
XCII.	—The Wher-wolf.
XCIII.	—In Which Doctor Toole and Dirty Davy Confer i the Blue-room.
XCIV.	—What Doctor Sturk Brought To Mind, and All Tha Doctor Toole Heard At Mr. Luke Gamble's.
XCV.	—In Which Doctor Pell Declines a Fee, and Doctor Stur a Prescription.
XCVI.	—About the Rightful Mrs. Nutter of the Mills, and Ho Mr. Mervyn Received The News.
XCVII.	—In Which Obediah Arrives.
XCVIII.	—In Which Charles Archer Puts Himself Upon the Country.
XCIX.	—The Story Ends.