Alice, Book IV

Alice, Book IV by Edward Bulwer-lytton

At Burleigh, Cleveland urges Maltravers toward marriage, but Maltravers, restless and still haunted by Florence Lascelles' memory, wavers over selling the estate. He learns Vargrave is courting Evelyn Cameron at the Mertons' and hears of the striking Colonel Legard and Lord Doltimore, who is drawn to Caroline Merton. When Maltravers finds an injured tramp woman on the road—struck by Vargrave's carriage, who callously drove on—he has her carried to Burleigh Hall. While Cleveland searches Maltravers's study, he finds mournful, unpublished verses hinting at a rekindled secret passion, alongside a shift from literature to science. Merton's party, touring Burleigh, includes Evelyn, Caroline, Doltimore, Admiral Legard and his nephew Colonel Legard. Evelyn shows spontaneous compassion for the injured woman, deepening Maltravers's admiration. Introduced to Legard, Maltravers is startled to recognize him from a prior encounter. Evelyn reproaches Maltravers for his distance, and his emotional reply betrays feeling he had meant to hide. Vargrave maneuvers to remove Legard as a rival by pressing him to accept a Storekeeper post and possible parliamentary seat, calculating this clears the field with Evelyn. Legard's uncle backs the plan, though Legard, drawn to Evelyn, hesitates. A backstory follows: Legard, an orphan of aristocratic but impoverished lineage raised dependent on his uncle's generosity, once nearly ruined himself gambling in Venice, where an anonymous Englishman stopped him from suicide, lent him money to repay his debt, and extracted a ten-year vow against gambling—revealed to have been Maltravers himself, whom Legard now recognizes at Burleigh. Legard awkwardly tries to thank Maltravers, who deflects. Overhearing Legard's careless view of Evelyn's engagement, Maltravers privately judges him unworthy despite the rescue. Cleveland teases Maltravers about being suspected of loving Evelyn, and Maltravers resolves to resume visiting the Mertons' rather than seem to flee. Vargrave courts Evelyn with calculated, patient formality, seeking her heart rather than merely her hand. Evelyn, unable to confide fully in the now-distant Caroline, despairs of the engagement; Caroline, herself entangled with both Vargrave and Doltimore's attentions, counsels resignation to a loveless but advantageous match. The narrator reflects on Evelyn's uncertain feelings—respect and fascination for Maltravers, easier affinity with Legard—leaving her own heart a mystery to her. Maltravers resumes visiting the rectory, sparring pleasantly with Evelyn over literature and life, while Doltimore turns his attentions to Caroline, encouraged by the Mertons' shifting matrimonial hopes now that Maltravers seems unlikely to propose. At a gathering, Vargrave mocks the world's mistrust of genius; Evelyn defends it passionately, unsettling Vargrave. Maltravers announces plans to accompany Cleveland to Paris, unable to bear watching Evelyn's engagement unfold. Riding home, Maltravers stops at the cottage of Sarah Elton, the injured woman, now dying of her internal injuries. She recounts her hard life—an unhappy first marriage, a rescuing benefactor, emigration to America, her husband William's death at sea—and reveals she was startled to recognize in Evelyn's face a resemblance to someone from her past, though the name Cameron means nothing to her; she promises to disclose more once stronger. Maltravers returns home lighter of heart, then confirms with Cleveland his departure for Paris on Saturday, seeking distraction from his unspoken love.

By Edward Bulwer-lytton · First published 1865 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Drama · 10 chapters · 19,313 words

First lines

"A virtuous woman is man's greatest pride. " -- SIMONIDES.

ABROAD uneasy, nor content at home. And Wisdom shows the ill without the cure. HAMMOND: _Elegies_.

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Fantasy · Adventure · Romance · Mystery · Gothic · Supernatural · Occult · Esoteric · Philosophical · Psychological · Victorian · Era Fiction

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