
DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
Set against the sprawling, moonlit grounds of Arden Park, a restless night of revelry erupts as the ancient estate prepares to honor the coming‑of‑age of its new lord. The festivities blend the lively glow of countless bonfires, the haunting strains of a blind harpist, and the solemn rituals that bind the Arden twins—Sir Willoughby and Alfred—to their inherited legacy. Amid the ruined castle walls and the distant spires of nearby churches, the atmosphere swells with both celebration and an undercurrent of expectation.
As midnight approaches, the ringing of church bells quiets the crowd, and the twin brothers stand poised on the mansion’s steps, ready to assume their roles within the family's storied tradition. The scene hints at a tangled web of pride, duty, and the choices that will test their bond, suggesting that the joyous occasion may soon give way to inner conflict. Listeners are invited into a richly described world where history, nature, and personal ambition converge, promising a tale of honor and the dilemmas that arise when legacy meets desire.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (217K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Heather Clark and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2011-04-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
An Irish novelist and political writer from the early 19th century, she is remembered for fiction that blended domestic storytelling with sharp social observation. Her work reached a wide readership in its day, and several of her novels have remained accessible through public-domain editions.
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