The Remarkable History of Sir Thomas Upmore, bart., M.P., formerly known as Tommy Upmore"" by R. D. Blackmore
(All rights reserved.)
* * *
LONDON:
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED.
STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING-CROSS.
* * *
PREFACE.
When Sir Thomas Upmore came, and asked me to write a short account of his strange adventures, I declined that honour; partly because I had never seen any of his memorable exploits. Perhaps that matters little, while his history so flourishes, by reason of being more creditable, as well as far more credible, than that of England, for the last few years.
Still, in such a case, the man who did the thing is the one to tell it. And his veracity has now become a proverb.
My refusal seemed to pain Sir Thomas, because he is so bashful; and no one can see him pained, without grieving for his own sake also, and trying to feel himself in the wrong.
This compelled me to find other arguments; which I did as follows:-
"First, my dear sir, in political matters, my humble view's are not strong, and trenchant-as yours are become by experience-but exceedingly large, and lenient; because I have never had anything at all to do with politics.
"Again, of science,-the popular name for almost any speculation, bold enough,-I am in ignorance equally blissful, if it were not thrilled with fear. What power shall resist the wild valour of the man, who proves that his mind is a tadpole's spawn, and then claims for that mind supreme dominion, and inborn omniscience? Before his acephalous rush, down go piled wisdom of ages, and pinnacled faith, cloud-capped heights of immortal hope, and even the mansions everlasting, kept for those who live for them."
"All those he may upset," replied Sir Thomas, with that sweet and buoyant smile, which has saved even his supernatural powers, from the sneers of those below him; "or at least, he may fancy that he has done it. But to come to facts,-can he upset, or even make head, or tail, of such a little affair as I am? Not one of his countless theories about me has a grain of truth in it; though he sees me, and feels me, and pokes me in the side, and listens, as if I were a watch run down, to know whether I am going. I assure you, that to those who are not frightened by his audacity, and fame, his 'links of irrefragable proof' are but a baby's dandelion chain. In chemistry alone, and engineering, has science made much true advance. The main of the residue is arrogance."
"In that branch of science, we are all Professors," I answered, to disarm his wrath; knowing that, in these riper years, honest indignation wrought upon his system, as youthful exultation once had done; and I could not afford to have a hole made in my ceiling. "However, Sir Thomas, I shall stick to my resolve. Though your life-when its largeness is seen aright-will be an honour to the history of our race, justice comes before honour; and only you can do justice to it."
Humility, which competes with truth, for the foremost place in his character, compelled him to shake his head at this; and he began again, rather sadly.
"My purpose is a larger one, than merely to talk of my own doings. I want to put common sense into plain English, and to show-as our medical men show daily-that the body is beyond the comprehension of the mind. The mind commands the body to lie down, and be poked at, and probed, and pried into, with fifty subtle instruments, or even to be cut up, and analysed alive; and then understands never the more of it. If the mind can learn nothing of the body it lives in, grows, rejoices, and suffers with, how can it know all about it, for millions of years before either existed? How can it trace their joint lineage up to a thing, that had neither a head, nor a body?
"Go to; what I offer is not argument, but fact; and I care not the head of their ancestor for them. But if I write it, will you remove whatever may offend a candid mind?"
"If you offend no mind but that," said I, being fresh from a sharp review of something I had written; "you will give small offence indeed; and to edit you will be a sinecure."
Both these predictions have proved correct; except indeed that a few kind readers of sadly unscientific mind have hankered for some explanation of parts which they failed to witness.
The reply is truly simple-"if you were not there the fault was yours; here are the facts as in evidence, better supported, and less strange, than those you accept without a wink; and perhaps your trouble in realising a case of specific levity proceeds from nothing but your own excessive specific gravity."
R. D. Blackmore.
Clara Vaughan, Volume II (of III) by R. D. Blackmore
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
“Are you sure you want to deny me as your mate?” Because of the dread, I felt in Bradley’s voice, I could not respond appropriately. I could feel his hold on my shoulder harder, showing that he disagreed with my statement. “We shouldn’t be talking about this since we’re siblings,” I say, realizing that I cannot answer his question openly. “We’re not related at all!” Bradley corrected my statement and looked me in the eye as he caressed my chin. “What exactly are you doing? Even if we are not biologically related, we are still considered siblings because your father married my mother.” I averted my gaze to go away from his face, which was so close that I could almost smell the mouthwash he was using. “I disagree, as our little brother said earlier. We don’t share a last name because our parents want us to end up together.” Bradley’s lips were pursed in a wicked grin.
Arya stealthily walks towards her boyfriend's room in the middle of her room with a cake in her hand – it's his birthday, and she wants to make sure she is the first person to wish him a happy birthday. Arya, believing her presence is going to be the only surprise, is met with a bigger shock when she finds her boyfriend in bed with not just any other woman, but her stepsister. When Arya's family gives her the ultimate betrayal by being on the side of her stepsister and arranging a quick marriage with the son of a bankrupt businessman for their selfish benefit, she is left with nothing but the broken pieces of her heart to mend, she is let in on a secret being kept by her husband, and things start to fall into place. When her family turns around and tries to convince her to do their bidding, Arya makes sure to exact her revenge on every one of them. But her family is not one to give up on what they want, and they will do anything to get Arya's husband on their side – including putting Arya's life on the line.
My name is Katia, and I am just trying to survive until my fated mate arrives. Which may be easier said than done. Rejectection is the last straw. Whispering my acceptance of his rejection. I run through the pack house, out across the manicured lawn into the forest. "I'm sorry, my sweet girl," I say to my wolf. I'm sorry you have been stuck with me and have had to suffer everything I have. She whispers," it's not your fault, Katia. We came to a cliff with a waterfall. The hurt keeps pounding at me. I need it to stop. My sweet girl, and I just want peace, I keep running and leap off the cliff. Spreading my arms wide, with tears streaming down my face, I fall, not making a sound, waiting for sweet oblivion where we feel nothing ever again. "I love you, my sweet girl! Until we meet again, "My wolf replied just before we hit the water, "I love you too, Katia. I have never regretted a moment with you." The Snow Moon pack is having their last barbecue of the summer next to the waterfall on their land. The adults are laughing and joking while watching the pups play. The alpha, beta, and gamma are swimming with some of the older children and playing a game of Marco Polo. Someone yells, "Oh my goddess, someone just jumped over the waterfall!" Everyone is frozen as they watch what looks to be a child falling arms spread wide, no one makes a sound. The small body hits the water like a plane crashing into the side of a mountain. The alpha, beta, and gamma, spring into action, swimming towards the area the person went under. The alpha is screaming his wolf is going crazy repeating, "Find her. Find her...find her!" They dive and the beta surfaces with a small person in his arms. Alpha takes the girl from his beta, laying her on the ground. The men are shocked by what they see. She is covered in scars and injuries. Her body is twisted and broken. The Beta asks, "Who could have done this to someone so defenseless?" Alpha drops to his knees, repeating, "MATE...MATE...MATE!"
"What do you want, Victoria?" Victoria walked closer to Vega, her eyes held hatred in them. "Look, let me warn you, don't even dare try to ruin my marriage, or else I will make your life a living hell!" "You knew he wasn't your mate, and you let him mark you, didn't you?" Vega asked with anger brewing inside her. Victoria lowered her gaze a little, which meant she actually knew. "So what if I know? I'm the one he marked, not you!" She yelled, showing Vega her marked neck. ****************************** What happens when your twin sister is accidentally marked by your one true mate? Victoria and Vega are twin sisters born to the Alpha of white snow pack. These sisters are so identical that it was very difficult to differentiate between them. Their Father Alpha Blake Gilbert sometimes found it hard to tell their differences too. Fortunately they had two distinct features that separated them: One is the fact that Victoria, who happens to be the eldest, was reckless and stubborn, while Vega was calm and quiet. But sadly, Vega was the one who always got punished for her sister's crime. Everyone in white snow pack thought Vega was the black sheep among the two. Vega suffered silently. Secondly, Victoria's wolf was brown while Vega's was white, but no one had seen Vega's wolf which was a rare kind of wolf. Alpha Reynold Flames of Blue Stone Pack happens to be the most famous and well-respected Alpha in the northern province of Westland. He is a Lycan, and he was very powerful. At the age of thirty, Reynold was still without a mate. When he visited white snow pack, his wolf sensed the presence of their mate. Excited as he was to find his mate, he was deceived into marking the wrong woman (Victoria) since she smelled just like his mate (Vega). What will happen to these three lives which have become entangled for life? Will there be a breakthrough for them or will things get even worse?
Rena, forced to flee to escape a marriage to a man as old as her father, made a spontaneous decision to marry Kellan, a stranger whose skills in homemaking were only matched by his financial acumen and his gentle demeanor. As their marriage unfolded, it took on a comforting predictability, with Kellan consistently showing himself to be reliable in every emergency. This sense of security crumbled when Rena uncovered Kellan’s true identity and the hidden motives behind their union. Enraged, she initiated a divorce and disappeared. Yet, it was not long before Kellan found her once again...