
This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
BOOK 7. - XLV. WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE. XLVI. AMONG GIPSY WOMEN XLVII. MY FATHER ACTS THE CHARMER AGAIN XLVIII. THE PRINCESS ENTRAPPED XLIX. WHICH FORESHADOWS A GENERAL GATHERING L. WE ARE ALL IN MY FATHER'S NET LI. AN ENCOUNTER SHOWING MY FATHER'S GENIUS IN A STRONG LIGHT - CHAPTER XLV - WITHIN AN INCH OF MY LIFE
A carriage rolls along a newly cut road between Durstan and Bulsted, carrying a young traveler whose thoughts drift back to the wild heath where a lone gypsy girl watches from a tent. The fleeting glance between them hints at a fragile connection, one that could be shattered by the clash of their very different worlds. As the driver mutters about the unpredictable nature of gipsies, the atmosphere is charged with both curiosity and an uneasy foreboding.
He joins a group of acquaintances—Heriot, a restless idealist dreaming of a continental army, and the scheming Lady Maria—who are entangled in a long‑standing feud between the Durstan and Riversley families. Their conversations swirl with talk of politics, romance, and the ever‑present danger of old grudges resurfacing, suggesting that the journey will soon test loyalties and reveal hidden motives. Listeners can expect a vivid portrait of Victorian England’s social labyrinth, where every encounter may turn the tide of the adventure.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (157K 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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