CONTENTS.CHAP.PAGEI.—IN THE SHADOW OF BERNE HILLS1II.—INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE MERCHANT’S SON AND DAUGHTER13III.—BRINGS US TO THE HALL FARM, WHERE THE READER MAKES THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THE SOMERTONS AND A CERTAIN LANDSCAPE PAINTER22IV.—THE METER IRON WORKS COMPANY36V.—THE DIBBLES AND THEIR NEW LODGER49VI.—THE TWO FRIENDS AND THE TWO VIGNETTES61VII.—IS A SENTIMENTAL CHAPTER, CONTAINING A FEW MORAL REFLECTIONS BY THE WAY77VIII.—IN WHICH PAUL SOMERTON ENTERS UPON A DELICATE, DIFFICULT, AND DANGEROUS TASK84IX.—WHICH INTRODUCES THE READER TO THE SUMMER-HOUSE ON BERNE HILLS, AND ILLUSTRATES THE TRUTH OF AN OLD PROVERB ABOUT EAVES-DROPPERS95X.—MR. RICHARD TALLANT INTERRUPTS A CHARMING TÊTE-À-TÊTE107XI.—ANOTHER UNEXPECTED VISITOR APPEARS AT BARTON HALL119XII.—BENEATH THE GOWN132XIII.—DESCRIBES A GREAT FINANCIAL STORM AND EXHIBITS THOMAS DIBBLE IN A NEW CHARACTER143XIV.—ARTHUR PHILLIPS AT WORK155XV.—RETURNS TO AVONWORTH VALLEY, AND GLANCES AT MRS. SOMERTON’S SECRET169XVI.—MAY BE SAID TO INAUGURATE A SERIES OF IMPORTANT CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF SEVERAL NOTABLE PERSONS IN THIS HISTORY179XVII.—CHIEFLY CONCERNS THE FORTUNES OF PAUL SOMERTON190XVIII.—RETURNS TO THE MEETING AT THE LONDON TAVERN199XIX.—OF CERTAIN REPORTS IN THE NEWSPAPERS210XX.—SHOWS HOW THE PURSE FOUND ITS WAY INTO PAUL SOMERTON’S BOX224XXI.—WHEREIN THOMAS DIBBLE “RUNS AWAY,” AND MEETS WITH A VERY REMARKABLE COMPANION236XXII.—IN WHICH THOMAS DIBBLE CONTINUES TO “RUN AWAY”246XXIII.—IS OF A MISCELLANEOUS AND DISCURSIVE CHARACTER, BUT ESSENTIAL TO THE NARRATIVE261XXIV.—CHRISTABEL TAKES DIBBLE INTO HER CONFIDENCE278