Lady of Lincoln Read Online Free PDF Page A

in some people’s eyes, we wouldn’t read half of what is in the Bible, and that it is how people conduct themselves in real life that matters.’
    ‘How very sensible,’ murmured Emily, much struck. ‘I think he ought to become a bishop.’
    ‘He certainly should,’ Nathalie agreed. ‘He is the best of men, and when I think what he … how he …’ She coloured, then went on hastily, ‘Do you think that it is sunny enough for our stroll, now?’
    Emily looked curiously at her companion, but did not make any remark. If the young clergyman had indeed behaved in some gallant way, she was sure that Nathalie would tell her about it eventually when she was ready.
    ‘I wonder how it is that some people come to write novels,’ Emily said thoughtfully, as she and Natalie sat in their little sitting-room one afternoon. It was about a week after Emily’sarrival in Mablethorpe. They had just finished The Fateful Bells and both had cried a little over the ending in which the little blind girl, who had also turned out to be consumptive, had died with blessings on her lips for her rescuer’s union with the handsome viscount.
    ‘I don’t know,’ Nathalie replied. ‘I’m very sure that I couldn’t .’
    ‘Well somebody must do so,’ Emily declared incontrovertibly, ‘and they must have a great deal of imagination. After all, no one could possibly experience all the mishaps which the characters suffered in The Fateful Bells .’
    ‘I should hope they would not,’ Nathalie agreed fervently. ‘To be chained to a rock as the tide was coming in on one page, and then to be immured in a dungeon just one chapter later must surely be beyond anyone’s experience.’
    ‘Exactly,’ Emily answered. ‘Nobody could have such things happen to them; which is why I should think almost anyone could write a novel, given a reasonable standard of literacy and the will to do it.’
    ‘Anyone?’ Nathalie echoed.
    ‘Why yes; in fact, even I could do so. After all, I do have some experience that may be relevant.’
    ‘ Really ?’ exclaimed Nathalie, her eyes opening very wide.
    ‘I don’t mean that I have ever been kidnapped, or seen a ghost, or been threatened with murder, like some of the characters in The Fateful Bells ,’ Emily answered her hastily. ‘But I have attended death-beds and visited people in prison.’
    ‘ And you live close to the cathedral,’ Nathalie put in with enthusiasm. ‘That could appear in some splendid scenes; especially at night.’
    ‘Yes, yes, it could,’ Emily agreed slowly.
    Nathalie gave a gasp. ‘I know!’ she cried. ‘You could have a corrupt clergyman!’
    ‘Goodness!’ Emily breathed. ‘It had never occurred to me that I could have such a thing. Of course,’ she went on after ashort pause, ‘I have no experience of romance.’
    ‘None at all?’ queried Nathalie in pitying tones. ‘But surely, Dr Boyle…?’
    ‘Oh no,’ Emily responded hastily. ‘There has been nothing of that nature between us. But I have my observations of how other people behave.’
    ‘And I could help you with the more … sentimental passages,’ Nathalie suggested.
    ‘Yes of course; if I ever did such a thing,’ Emily agreed. ‘But I never shall.’
    ‘Oh, why not?’ Nathalie demanded, her imagination now fairly caught by the idea. ‘It would be such fun! I know, you could put all the people that you know into the book under different identities!’
    ‘But how would I face anyone when it came into print?’ Emily asked her.
    ‘You could publish under an assumed name,’ Nathalie suggested. ‘Or just call yourself “a gentleman” or “a lady”.’
    ‘But where would be the fun in that?’ Emily asked her. ‘If I had a book published I would want to boast about it to everyone .’ After Mrs Fanshawe had gone upstairs to rest, Emily went for her usual walk along the beach. On this occasion, she had something new to occupy her mind, however, for she began idly to turn over in her mind the