
M A D O N N A M A R Y. - CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
A newlywed couple navigates the uneasy aftermath of a hastily arranged marriage in the late‑Victorian countryside. Major Ochterlony, a restless soldier, carries a weight of unease that his wife Mary meets with a blend of patience and quiet humor. Their domestic life, filled with letters, work‑baskets, and the ordinary rhythms of a country estate, is suddenly unsettled by the news of Old Sommerville’s death—a seemingly minor figure whose passing stirs something far deeper.
As the Major confides his fears, hinting at a “false start” and a lingering sense of foolishness, Mary’s steady composure is tested. The couple must confront not only the mystery surrounding the gardener’s demise but also the lingering doubts about the foundation of their union. Their dialogue reveals a delicate balance between affection and anxiety, promising a story that probes the hidden strains of love, duty, and the quiet dramas that unfold behind genteel façades.
Language
en
Duration
~18 hours (1053K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
Release date
2013-10-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1897
A hugely productive Victorian storyteller, she wrote vivid novels of family life, small-town society, and the supernatural while supporting her family through her pen. Her work ranges from the much-loved Chronicles of Carlingford to ghost stories that still feel sharp and modern.
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