
This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
BOOK 5. - XXVI. MRS. MEL MAKES A BED FOR HERSELF AND FAMILY XXVII. EXHIBITS ROSE'S GENERALSHIP; EVAN'S PERFORMANCE ON THE SECOND FIDDLE; AND THE WRETCHEDNESS OF THE COUNTESS XXVIII. TOM COGGLESBY'S PROPOSITION XXIX. PRELUDE TO AN ENGAGEMENT XXX. THE BATTLE OF THE BULL-DOGS. PART I. XXXI. THE BATTLE OF THE BULL-DOGS. PART II. - CHAPTER XXVI - MRS. MEL MAKES A BED FOR HERSELF AND FAMILY
Mrs. Mel is a keen‑eyed matriarch whose mornings begin with ledgers and gossip, and whose evenings are suddenly upended by a single, ominous letter. The note reveals that her son Evan—a self‑styled gentleman—has been masquerading as a lord at the opulent Beckley Court, courting a wealthy heiress while his true trade as a tailor remains hidden. As the household buzzes with speculation, Mrs. Mel’s sharp tongue and her faithful squire Dandy become the unlikely guardians of a secret that could unravel a marriage and shake a community’s expectations of class and propriety.
In the midst of witty repartee between aunt and niece, the story paints a vivid portrait of Victorian domestic life—full of hurried dictations, sly observations, and the ever‑present tension between ambition and honesty. Listeners are drawn into a world where a single misstep can launch a cascade of consequences, and the characters’ colorful personalities promise both humor and heartfelt reflection.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (156K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1909
A sharp, witty Victorian voice, this English novelist and poet is best known for brilliant dialogue, psychological insight, and a style that rewards close reading. His work helped push the English novel toward greater complexity, with books like The Egoist and poems such as Modern Love still drawing attention today.
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