E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. Links to Volumes RACHEL RAY A Novel. By ANTHONY TROLLOPE, By AUTHOR OF "BARCHESTER TOWERS," "CASTLE RICHMOND," "ORLEY FARM," ETC. IN TWO VOLUMES. Vol. I. Vol LONDON: CHAPMAN AND HALL, 193, PICCADILLY. 1863. [The right of Translation is reserved.] CONTENTS. RACHEL RAY. CHAPTER I. THE RAY FAMILY. There are women who cannot grow alone as standard trees;—for whom the support and warmth of some wall, some paling, some post, is absolutely necessary;—who, in their growth, will bend and incline themselves towards some such prop for their life, creeping with their tendrils along the ground till they reach it when the circumstances of life have brought no such prop within their natural and immediate reach. Of most women it may be said that it would be well for them that they should marry,—as indeed of most men also, seeing that man and wife will each lend the other strength, and yet in lending lose none; but to the women of whom I now speak some kind of marriage is quite indispensable, and