She is what she is, and remains in her abject, pitiless, unutterable misery, because this sentence of the world has placed her beyond the helping hand of Love and Friendship. It may be said, no doubt, that the severity of this judgment acts as a protection to female virtue,--deterring, as all known punishments do deter, from vice. But this punishment, which is horrible beyond the conception of those who have not regarded it closely, is not known beforehand. Instead of the punishment there is seen a false glitter of gaudy life,--a glitter which is damnably false,--and which, alas, has been more often portrayed in glowing colours, for the injury of young girls, than have those horrors, which ought to deter, with the dark shadowings which belong to them.
To write in fiction of one so fallen as the noblest of her sex, as one to be rewarded because of her weakness, as one whose life is happy, bright, and glorious, is certainly to allure to vice and misery. But it may perhaps be possible that if the matter be handled with truth to life, some girl, who would have been thoughtless, may be made thoughtful, or some parent's heart may be softened. It may also at last be felt that this misery is worthy of alleviation, as is every misery to which humanity is subject.
I. BULLHAMPTON II. FLO'S RED BALL III. SAM BRATTLE IV. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE V. THE MILLER VI. BRATTLE'S MILL VII. THE MILLER'S WIFE VIII. THE LAST DAY IX. MISS MARRABLE X. CRUNCH'EM CAN'T BE HAD XI. DON'T YOU BE AFEARD ABOUT ME XII. BONE'M AND HIS MASTER XIII. CAPTAIN MARRABLE AND HIS FATHER XIV. COUSINHOOD XV. THE POLICE AT FAULT XVI. MISS LOWTHER ASKS FOR ADVICE XVII. THE MARQUIS OF TROWBRIDGE XVIII. BLANK PAPER XIX. SAM BRATTLE RETURNS HOME XX. I HAVE A JUPITER OF MY OWN NOW XXI. WHAT PARSON JOHN THINKS ABOUT IT XXII. WHAT THE FENWICKS THOUGHT ABOUT IT XXIII. WHAT MR. GILMORE THOUGHT ABOUT IT XXIV. THE REV. HENRY FITZACKERLEY CHAMBERLAINE XXV. CARRY BRATTLE XXVI. THE TURNOVER CORRESPONDENCE XXVII. "I NEVER SHAMED NONE OF THEM" XXVIII. MRS. BRATTLE'S JOURNEY XXIX. THE BULL AT LORING XXX. THE AUNT AND THE UNCLE XXXI. MARY LOWTHER FEELS HER WAY XXXII. MR. GILMORE'S SUCCESS XXXIII. FAREWELL XXXIV. BULLHAMPTON NEWS XXXV. MR. PUDDLEHAM'S NEW CHAPEL XXXVI. SAM BRATTLE GOES OFF AGAIN XXXVII. FEMALE MARTYRDOM XXXVIII. A LOVER'S MADNESS XXXIX. THE THREE HONEST MEN XL. TROTTER'S BUILDINGS XLI. STARTUP FARM XLII. MR. QUICKENHAM, Q.C. XLIII. EASTER AT TURNOVER CASTLE XLIV. THE MARRABLES OF DUNRIPPLE XLV. WHAT SHALL I DO WITH MYSELF? XLVI. MR. JAY OF WARMINSTER XLVII. SAM BRATTLE IS WANTED XLVIII. MARY LOWTHER RETURNS TO BULLHAMPTON XLIX. MARY LOWTHER'S DOOM L. MARY LOWTHER INSPECTS HER FUTURE HOME LI. THE GRINDER AND HIS COMRADE LII. CARRY BRATTLE'S JOURNEY LIII. THE FATTED CALF LIV. MR. GILMORE'S RUBIES LV. GLEBE LAND LVI. THE VICAR'S VENGEANCE LVII. OIL IS TO BE THROWN UPON THE WATERS LVIII. EDITH BROWNLOW'S DREAM LIX. NEWS FROM DUNRIPPLE LX. LORD ST. GEORGE IS VERY CUNNING LXI. MARY LOWTHER'S TREACHERY LXII. UP AT THE PRIVETS LXIII. THE MILLER TELLS HIS TROUBLES LXIV. IF I WERE YOUR SISTER! LXV. MARY LOWTHER LEAVES BULLHAMPTON LXVI. AT THE MILL LXVII. SIR GREGORY MARRABLE HAS A HEADACHE LXVIII. THE SQUIRE IS VERY OBSTINATE LXIX. THE TRIAL LXX. THE FATE OF THE PUDDLEHAMITES LXXI. THE END OF MARY LOWTHER'S STORY LXXII. AT TURNOVER CASTLE LXXIII. CONCLUSION