Ancestors A Novel By Gertrude Atherton Copyright, 1907, by Harper & Brothers. New York and London Harper & Brothers All rights reserved. Published September, 1907. TO Emma Beatrice Brunner CONTENTS PART I I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX PART II I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX PART III I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV BY THE SAME AUTHOR ANCESTORS PART I 1904 I Miss Thangue, who had never seen her friend's hand tremble among the teacups before, felt an edge on her mental appetite, stimulating after two monotonous years abroad. It was several minutes, however, before she made any effort to relieve her curiosity, for of all her patron-friends Victoria Gwynne required the most delicate touch. Flora had learned to be audacious without taking a liberty, which, indeed, was one secret of her success; but although she prided herself upon her reading of this enigma, whom even the ancestral dames of Capheaton looked down upon inspectively, she was never quite sure of her ground. She particularly wished to