Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope (epub e ink reader .TXT) π
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Doctor Thorne is the third book in Trollopeβs βChronicles of Barsetshireβ series, which is set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, somewhere in Englandβs West Country. Unlike the two earlier novels in the series, Doctor Thorne isnβt set in the cathedral city of Barchester, but in the small village of Greshamsbury and the estate of the local squire, Greshamsbury Park.
Doctor Thorne is a middle-aged medical practitioner in Greshamsbury, a friend of the local squire Mr. Gresham, who is deeply in debt because of ill-advised attempts to gain a seat in Parliament. Doctor Thorne not only provides medical advice to the Greshams, but also assists Mr. Gresham in obtaining financial loans from a local self-made entrepreneur, Sir Richard Scratcherd. When Mr. Greshamβs son Frank comes of age, it is impressed on the young man that he must βmarry moneyβ to overcome the debts of the estate.
Doctor Thorne is regarded highly among Trollopeβs works, with one prominent critic, Michael Sadleir, writing in 1927 of βthe sensational perfection of Doctor Thorne.β
A television adaptation of the book was produced by ITV and aired in March 2016, with a script written by Julian Fellowes, the writer of Gosford Park and Downton Abbey
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- Author: Anthony Trollope
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But she thought not only of Frank; dreamed not only of him. What had he not done for her, that uncle of hers, who had been more loving to her than any father! How was he, too, to be paid? Paid, indeed! Love can only be paid in its own coin: it knows of no other legal tender. Well, if her home was to be Greshamsbury, at any rate she would not be separated from him.
What the doctor dreamed of that, neither he or anyone ever knew. βWhy, uncle, I think youβve been asleep,β said Mary to him that evening as he moved for a moment uneasily on the sofa. He had been asleep for the last three-quarters of an hour;β βbut Frank, his guest, had felt no offence. βNo, Iβve not been exactly asleep,β said he; βbut Iβm very tired. I wouldnβt do it all again, Frank, to double the money. You havenβt got any more tea, have you, Mary?β
On the following morning, Beatrice was of course with her friend. There was no awkwardness between them in meeting. Beatrice had loved her when she was poor, and though they had not lately thought alike on one very important subject, Mary was too gracious to impute that to Beatrice as a crime.
βYou will be one now, Mary; of course you will.β
βIf Lady Arabella will let me come.β
βOh, Mary; let you! Do you remember what you said once about coming, and being near me? I have so often thought of it. And now, Mary, I must tell you about Caleb;β and the young lady settled herself on the sofa, so as to have a comfortable long talk. Beatrice had been quite right. Mary was as meek with her, and as mild as a dove.
And then Patience Oriel came. βMy fine, young, darling, magnificent, overgrown heiress,β said Patience, embracing her. βMy breath deserted me, and I was nearly stunned when I heard of it. How small we shall all be, my dear! I am quite prepared to toady to you immensely; but pray be a little gracious to me, for the sake of auld lang syne.β
Mary gave a long, long kiss. βYes, for auld lang syne, Patience; when you took me away under your wing to Richmond.β Patience also had loved her when she was in her trouble, and that love, too, should never be forgotten.
But the great difficulty was Lady Arabellaβs first meeting with her. βI think Iβll go down to her after breakfast,β said her ladyship to Beatrice, as the two were talking over the matter while the mother was finishing her toilet.
βI am sure she will come up if you like it, mamma.β
βShe is entitled to every courtesyβ βas Frankβs accepted bride, you know,β said Lady Arabella. βI would not for worlds fail in any respect to her for his sake.β
βHe will be glad enough for her to come, I am sure,β said Beatrice. βI was talking with Caleb this morning, and he saysβ ββ
The matter was of importance, and Lady Arabella gave it her most mature consideration. The manner of receiving into oneβs family an heiress whose wealth is to cure all oneβs difficulties, disperse all oneβs troubles, give a balm to all the wounds of misfortune, must, under any circumstances, be worthy of much care. But when that heiress has been already treated as Mary had been treated!
βI must see her, at any rate, before I go to Courcy.β said Lady Arabella.
βAre you going to Courcy, mamma?β
βOh, certainly; yes, I must see my sister-in-law now. You donβt seem to realise the importance, my dear, of Frankβs marriage. He will be in a great hurry about it, and, indeed, I cannot blame him. I expect that they will all come here.β
βWho, mamma? the de Courcys?β
βYes, of course. I shall be very much surprised if the earl does not come now. And I must consult my sister-in-law as to asking the Duke of Omnium.β
Poor Mary!
βAnd I think it will perhaps be better,β continued Lady Arabella, βthat we should have a larger party than we intended at your affair. The countess, Iβm sure, would come now. We couldnβt put it off for ten days; could we, dear?β
βPut it off ten days!β
βYes; it would be convenient.β
βI donβt think Mr. Oriel would like that at all, mamma. You know he has made all his arrangements for his Sundaysβ ββ
Pshaw! The idea of the parsonβs Sundays being allowed to have any bearing on such a matter as Frankβs wedding would now become! Why, they would haveβ βhow much? Between twelve and fourteen thousand a year! Lady Arabella, who had made her calculations a dozen times during the night, had never found it to be much less than the larger sum. Mr. Orielβs Sundays, indeed!
After much doubt, Lady Arabella acceded to her daughterβs suggestion, that Mary should be received at Greshamsbury instead of being called on at the doctorβs house. βIf you think she wonβt mind the coming up first,β said her ladyship. βI certainly could receive her better here. I should be moreβ βmoreβ βmore able, you know, to express what I feel. We had better go into the big drawing-room today, Beatrice. Will you remember to tell Mrs. Richards?β
βOh, certainly,β was Maryβs answer when Beatrice, with a voice a little trembling, proposed to her to walk up to the house. βCertainly I will, if Lady Arabella will receive me;β βonly one thing, Trichy.β
βWhatβs that, dearest?β
βFrank will think that I come after him.β
βNever mind what he thinks. To tell you the truth,
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