LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. THE TWO CATHERINES BEAMISH AND CATHERINE "LET US DRINK TO THE HEALTH OF THE ABSENT," said Petitpère, SOLEMNLY "OUT OF THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH" THE VILLAGE ON THE CLIFF. PREFACE. WE have all of us in the course of our life's journeys sometimes lived for a little while in places which were wearisome and monotonous to us at the time; which had little to attract or to interest; we may have left them without regret, never even wishing to return. But yet as we have travelled away, we may have found that through some subtle and unconscious attraction, sights, sounds, and peculiarities which we thought we had scarcely noticed, seem to be repeating themselves in our brains; the atmosphere of the place seems to be haunting us, as though unwilling to let us escape. And this peculiar distinctness and vividness does not appear to wear out with time and distance. The pictures are like those of a magic-lantern, and come suddenly out of the dimness and darkness, starting into life when the lamp is lighted by some chance association; so clearly and sharply defined and coloured, that we can scarcely believe that they |