The War of the Worlds
Book Two—The Earth Under the Martians, Chapter 2: What We Saw from the Ruined House
by H.G. Wells
The narrator closely observes the Martians while taking refuge in an abandoned house.
The narrator closely observes the Martians while taking refuge in an abandoned house.
A white fairy befriends a young prince. The fairy gave the prince a ring and tells him that whenever he did something unkind, the ring would prick his finger and he would lose her friendship. After several unkind deeds she turned him into a dog. Only changing his ways would bring him back to his handsome self.
Mr. Watson finds Holmes in an opium den when looking for a friend who had been missing. Holmes is studying a case in which a man disappeared from the upstairs room of the den. All that was found was a deformed man with a limp and traces of the man’s blood and clothes with no apparent violence.
The author discusses the Art of Sight Recognition and the Universal Color Bill.
A while later, Rochester fulfills his promise to Jane to tell her about his and Adèle’s pasts. He had a long affair with Adèle’s mother, the French singer and dancer named Celine Varens. When he discovered that Celine was engaged in relations with another man, Rochester ended the relationship. Rochester has always denied Celine’s claim that Adèle is his daughter, noting that the child looks utterly unlike him. Even so, when Celine abandoned her daughter, Rochester brought Adèle to England so that she would be properly cared for. Jane lies awake brooding about the strange insights she has gained into her employer’s past. She hears what sound like fingers brushing against the walls, and an eerie laugh soon emanates from the hallway. She hears a door opening and hurries out of her room to see smoke coming from Rochester’s door. Jane dashes into his room and finds his bed curtains ablaze. She douses the bed with water, saving Rochester’s life. Strangely, Rochester’s reaction is to visit the third floor of the house. When he returns, he says mysteriously, “I have found it all out, it is just as I thought.” He inquires whether Jane has ever heard the eerie laughter before, and she answers that she has heard Grace Poole laugh in the same way. “Just so. Grace Poole—you have guessed it,” Rochester confirms. He thanks Jane for saving his life and cautions her to tell no one about the details of the night’s events. He sleeps on the library sofa for the remainder of the night.
The preface to the book.
Little George returns, as does good fortune, to the Sedley house.
The Civil War brings many changes to Jesse Bentley's life,
Kate, captivated by George, pays him a visit.
Chee-Chee, having grown homesick without Polynesia, makes her way back to Puddleby.
The hero is the young Tom Kitten; other main characters are the rat Mr Samuel Whiskers and his wife Anna Maria, who catch Tom Kitten and almost use him to make a roly-poly pudding.
Sara begins her new life as a servant.
Because of Uncle Henry’s failing health and poor weather, he and Aunt Em are broke and are going to lose the farm. They tell Dorothy that she will be better off living as a princess in Oz rather than poor with them. Dorothy goes to her room and with the help of Ozma and the Magic Belt, she leaves for Oz.
Mrs. March is sent for as Beth's condition worsens.
Having been with his garrison for a period, the recovered Captain Phoebus arrives in Notre Dame as the crowd gathers for punishment of Esmeralda. Upon seeing Captain Phoebus, the condemned Esmeralda collapses just before she is rescued by Quasimoto.
When Benjamin Bunny and his children, the “Flopsy Bunnies,” go to Mr. McGregor’s rubbish heap, they are pleasantly surprised to find it filled with overgrown lettuces. They eat their fill, and then fall asleep. When they are found by Mr. McGregor and put in a bag, Thomasina Tittlemouse comes to their rescue.
David returns to London where he visits with old friends and acquaintances.
A king who has not been able to have children makes a promise, only to find that he has given up his only child. The prince determines to find a way out of the promise, and completes several tasks with the help of the princess.
A late night visit from Erik, causes rumors to spread about Carol. While discussing the current situation in Gopher Prairie, Vida discloses her prior relationship with Will to Carol. Carol's discomfort continues to grow.
Mrs. Bute Crawley attempts to protect Miss Crawley.
Following a valiant fight against the Sioux's attack, Phileas leads a party to rescue the captured prisoners. Phileas' successful rescue of Passepartout is greatly received by Aouda. Phileas plans the next leg of his trip.
Henry is awakened by the sounds of war. Disoriented, Henry believes the bodies of his fellow soldiers to be corpses. Henry is impressed Wilson's selflessness and self-sacrifice.
Horatio's wife mistreats Mary, Clotel's daughter.
A family of hawks has friends who save them.
Jake's story is told to Alice. Alice and Ruth take part in a motor race.