
CHAPTER I. ENTER DAME GOSSIP AS CHORUS
CHAPTER II. MISTRESS GOSSIP TELLS OF THE ELOPEMENT OF THE COUNTESS OF CRESSETT WITH THE OLD BUCCANEER, AND OF CHARLES DUMP THE POSTILLION CONDUCTING
CHAPTER III. CONTINUATION OF THE INTRODUCTORY MEANDERINGS OF DAME GOSSIP, TOGETHER WITH HER SUDDEN EXTINCTION
CHAPTER IV. MORNING AND FAREWELL TO AN OLD HOME
CHAPTER V. A MOUNTAIN WALK IN MIST AND SUNSHINE
CHAPTER VI. THE NATURAL PHILOSOPHER
CHAPTER VII. THE LADY’S LETTER
CHAPTER VIII. OF THE ENCOUNTER OF TWO STRANGE YOUNG MEN AND THEIR CONSORTING: IN WHICH THE MALE READER IS REQUESTED TO BEAR IN MIND WHAT WILD CREATURE HE WAS IN HIS YOUTH, WHILE THE FEMALE SHOULD MARVEL CREDULOUSLY
CHAPTER IX. CONCERNING THE BLACK GODDESS FORTUNE AND THE WORSHIP OF HER, TOGETHER WITH AN INTRODUCTION OF SOME OF HER VOTARIES
CHAPTER X. SMALL CAUSES
The famed Countess of Cressett dazzles every room she enters, a striking blend of beauty, wit, and daring that has made her the subject of countless portraits and whispered conversations across the kingdom. From her legendary swim across the Shannon to the flamboyant hats that crown her head, she embodies the spirit of a woman who refuses to be confined by the expectations of her aristocratic world. Her close bond with her brother, the scholarly colonel turned inventor, adds a layer of loyalty and intrigue to her already colorful life.
Through a lively chorus of gossip and sharp‑tongued critics, the narrative paints a vivid picture of a society eager to both adore and condemn her. The Countess’s flirtations with the roguish Old Buccaneer Kirby hint at a love that defies propriety, while the arrival of their children promises new complications. Listeners will be drawn into a world of lavish salons, artistic rivalries, and the relentless chatter of those who love to catalog scandal—setting the stage for a tale as spirited as the Countess herself.
Language
en
Duration
~15 hours (874K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
2004-11-05
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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