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Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915

"Fenton's Quest"

The income grudgingly left
to his wife by Stephen has enabled Mr. Randall to begin business as a
solicitor upon his own account, in a small town near London, with every
apparent prospect of success. Ellen's home is within easy reach of the
river-side villa occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Fenton; so she is able to see
her dear Marian as often as she likes; nor is there any guest at the
villa more welcome than this faithful friend.
The half-written memoir of Jonathan Swift was published; and reviewers,
who had no compunction in praising the dead, were quick to recognize the
touch of a master hand, the trenchant style of a powerful thinker. For
the public the book is of no great value; it is merely a curiosity of
literature; but it is the only monument of his own rugged genius which
bears the name of John Saltram.
Poor little Mrs. Branston has not sacrificed all the joys of life to the
manes of her faithless lover. She is now the happy wife of a dashing
naval officer, and gives pleasant parties which bring life and light into
the great house in Cavendish-square; parties to which Theobald Pallinson
comes, and where he shines as a small feeble star when greater lights are
absent--singing his last little song, or reciting his last little poem,
for the delight of some small coterie of single ladies not in the first
bloom of youth; but parties from which Mrs.


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