Little Women
Part 2, Chapter 24: Gossip
by Louisa May Alcott
Three years have passed and Mr. March has come home. Meg is preparing for her marriage, while Jo pursues a writing career.
Three years have passed and Mr. March has come home. Meg is preparing for her marriage, while Jo pursues a writing career.
When Mr. Lockwood returns for a second visit to Wuthering Heights, he gets stranded there due to a snowstorm. As he tries to leave the property without a guide he borrows Joseph's lantern, and is then stopped and pinned down by Mr. Heathcliff's dogs, forcing him to stay the night.
Rebecca describes the Crawley family to Amelia. Rebecca meets her charges.
A story in which dreams are effected by objects that retell the purpose they served. In this tale of terror, a leather funnel tells the tale of a horrbile execution.
The group continues tracking Magua. Disaster is narrowly averted when Gamut is discovered in the forest.
Robert d'Estouteville heads to court, where Deputy Florian is already holding court. The terribly deaf Deputy Frollo attempts to interrogate Quasimoto, causing much laughter in the courtroom.
Mrs. Bute Crawley attempts to protect Miss Crawley.
An unnamed narrator retells Augustus Bedloe's account of his strange experiences in the Ragged Mountains.
Marlow and a company manager meet with Kurtz, who has become gravely ill. Marlow finds himself ostracized after defending Kurtz.
Uncas’ mistaken identity saves all but one prisoner from Magua’s grasp. The group vows to pursue Magua.
The Tuskegee Institute creates a new program to allow the less privileged to attend. The author's skills as a public speaker put him in a position of high demand.
Eppie, now eighteen, and Silas discuss many plans for the future.
Marlow recounts his journey up the Congo River to the narrator and his fellow travelers.
Jane contemplates her supernatural experience of the previous night, wondering whether it was really Rochester’s voice that she heard calling to her and whether Rochester might actually be in trouble. She finds a note from St. John urging her to resist temptation, but nevertheless she boards a coach to Thornfield. She travels to the manor, anxious to see Rochester and reflecting on the ways in which her life has changed in the single year since she left. Once hopeless, alone, and impoverished, Jane now has friends, family, and a fortune. She hurries to the house after her coach arrives and is shocked to find Thornfield a charred ruin. She goes to an inn called the Rochester Arms to learn what has happened. Here, she learns that Bertha Mason set the house ablaze several months earlier. Rochester saved his servants and tried to save his wife, but she flung herself from the roof as the fire raged around her. In the fire, Rochester lost a hand and went blind. He has taken up residence in a house called Ferndean, located deep in the forest, with John and Mary, two elderly servants.
Isabella writes to Edgar to tell him of her impending death, and asks him to come and get Linton to take him back to the Grange. Nelly watches over Cathy while he is gone, and Cathy finds her way to Wuthering Heights while playing one day. Nelly and Cathy decide to keep her visit to Wuthering Heights from Edgar.
Another day begins in the Babbitt household. The reader is introduced to George and Myra Babbitt.
Jane finds life at Thornfield pleasant and comfortable. Adèle proves to be exuberant and intelligent, though spoiled and at times a bit petulant. Nonetheless, Jane is frequently restless and collects her thoughts while pacing Thornfield’s top-story passageway. One evening a few months after her arrival at Thornfield, Jane is alone watching the moon rise when she perceives a horse approaching. It calls to her mind the story Bessie once told her of a spirit called a Gytrash, which disguises itself as a mule, dog, or horse to frighten “belated travellers.” Oddly enough, a dog then appears as well. Once she realizes that the horse has a rider, the uncanny moment ceases. Just after the horse passes her, it slips on a patch of ice, and its rider tumbles to the ground. Jane helps the man rise to his feet and introduces herself to him. She observes that he has a dark face, stern features, and a heavy brow. He is not quite middle-aged. Upon reentering Thornfield, Jane goes to Mrs. Fairfax’s room and sees the same dog—Pilot—resting on the rug. A servant answers Jane’s queries, explaining that the dog belongs to Mr. Rochester, who has just returned home with a sprained ankle, having fallen from his horse.
Two enemies, Kennedy and Burger, are students of Roman remains. Burger embarks on a three week affair with a girl and returns alone, also having found a new catacomb. Kennedy attempts to get the story from him.
The boat avoids trouble. Captain Spike remembers Jack Tier. Mrs. Budd shows her interesting view of things. Jack Tier boards the Molly Swash. The captain disguises the boat.
Aunt Betsey meets with Mr. Murdstone in order to make a decision about David.
William and Frances continue their married life together, with continued contact with Hunsden.
Dorian reveals his interest in Sibyl Vane to Lord Henry.
George and Myra's visit to Riesling upsets Zilla. George and Riesling prepare to take a trip.
A biography of Sir Isaac Newton.
Captain Nemo and the men go pearl hunting.