Transcriber’s Notes
The cover image was produced by the transcriber and is placedin the public domain.
No table of contents existed in the original book. A simple table of contents was createdby the transcriber.
Additional transcriber's notes at the end of the text.
THE
PASTOR'S FIRE-SIDE,
A
NOVEL,
IN FOUR VOLUMES.
BY
MISS JANE PORTER,
AUTHOR OF THADDEUS OF WARSAW, SIDNEY'S APHORISMS, AND THE SCOTTISHCHIEFS.
I will confess the ambitious projects which I once had, are dead withinme. After having seen the parts which fools play upon the great stage; afew books, and a few friends, are what I shall seek to finish my dayswith.
TWEDDELL.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, PATERNOSTER-ROW.
1817.
CONTENTS.
- CHAP. I. 1
- CHAP. II. 27
- CHAP. III. 65
- CHAP. IV. 102
- CHAP. V. 130
- CHAP. VI. 160
- CHAP. VII. 193
- CHAP. VIII. 220
- CHAP. IX. 239
- CHAP. X. 270
- CHAP. XI. 278
- CHAP. XII. 296
THE
PASTOR'S FIRE-SIDE,
Vol. I.
CHAP. I.
It was late one fine evening in September, when a boat, borne along bya single sail, passed over the narrow sea which divides Lindisfarnefrom the mainland, and moored itself within the small bay of theisland. The moon was beginning to rise; and by her silvering outline,already distinguished the venerable relics of Saint Cuthbert'smonastery from the shadows of twilight.
Two persons wrapped in large cloaks, and followed by one who seemeda servant, rose from the boat; and giving a piece of gold to theirsolitary navigator,[2] stepped on shore. The elder of the two made thesign of the cross upon his breast, and with his eyes bent to theground, walked slowly forward. The younger performed the same act ofdevotion, though in a less fixed manner, and shivering as he lookedup to the flying clouds, followed his companion. Having proceededover sand and shingle without discerning any thing like an inhabiteddwelling, he began to doubt the boatman's information respecting thesituation of their purposed lodgings; and, looking around for someother intelligence, perceived a group of fishermen on a shelve of therock.—By the assistance of his servant, he scrambled up the acclivity,and enquired the way to the Reverend Richard Athelstone's.—One ofthe men, raising himself from the heap of gathered nets they had beendrying on the rocks, pointed along the top of the cliff, and told himto keep on, west of the abbey,