The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins (1824-1889)

Original en 244639 words First published 1859 United Kingdom

On a moonlit road to London a young drawing master, Walter Hartright, is stopped by a woman dressed all in white, who has just escaped from an asylum. Weeks later he arrives at Limmeridge House to teach drawing to two half-sisters — and finds that his new pupil's face is the face of the woman on the road. Around her closes a conspiracy of forged registers, a secret marriage and a stolen fortune, engineered by the most urbane villain in Victorian fiction, Count Fosco. Told in sworn testimonies like a legal brief, Collins's sensation novel of 1859 made nervous dread fashionable and gave England a new phrase for it.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

001 This is the story of what a Woman’s patience can endure, and what a… 2567 words
002 It may be necessary to explain here that Pesca prided himself on… 2500 words
003 The next morning I sent my testimonials to the Professor’s employer in Portland Place. 2542 words
004 “Do you live in London?” she said. 2685 words
005 “Mr. Hartright?” said the lady interrogatively, her dark face… 2763 words
006 If a man’s personal appearance, when he is out of his dressing-room… 2714 words
007 “Now, Mrs. Vesey,” said Miss Halcombe, looking brighter, sharper, and… 2882 words
008 We had been out nearly three hours, when the carriage again passed… 2523 words
009 Meanwhile Miss Halcombe read me the last sentences to which she had… 2534 words
010 X It was on a Thursday in the week, and nearly at the end of the… 2606 words
011 Before I could assure her that she might depend on my acting in the… 2633 words
012 “If we have any chance of tracing the person who has written this,” I… 2590 words
013 Although Miss Halcombe did not seem to be convinced, she evidently… 2507 words
014 She sighed—looked about the burial-ground nervously—shook her head… 2501 words
015 “What misfortune?” I asked. 2558 words
016 XIV Half an hour later I was back at the house, and was informing… 2525 words
017 The girl blushed and curtseyed, and said shyly that she hoped she… 2525 words
018 Mr. Gilmore was a great assistance to us. He was in high good-humour… 2673 words
019 I arrived at Limmeridge House on Friday the second of November. 2505 words
020 Miss Halcombe was not long in writing the note. 2622 words
021 The purely temporary arrangement thus proposed might have been… 2597 words
022 At a later period the cause of this sudden determination was fully explained to me. 2502 words
023 “Very true,” replied Mr. Merriman, looking down thoughtfully at his… 2518 words
024 “You are entirely wrong, sir,” I said, “in supposing that I speak… 2528 words
025 Greatly to my relief, Sir Percival sent an apology for not joining us at breakfast. 2512 words
026 She laid the book on the table and drew out the comb that fastened her hair. 2518 words
027 25th.—Sad news yesterday—ominous news to-day. 2670 words
028 So the first proposal is the proposal accepted. 2606 words
029 This last day has been all confusion and wretchedness. 2704 words
030 So much for the persons and events which hold the foremost place in my memory. 2573 words
031 Finding no one in the hall I went up at once to my own sitting-room… 2700 words
032 She should not have asked those questions. 2599 words
033 All the smallest characteristics of this strange man have something… 2516 words
034 “Make your mind easy, Sir Percival,” I heard the lawyer say; “it all… 2571 words
035 “It is easy to turn everything into ridicule,” said Laura resolutely… 2547 words
036 “How came the housekeeper to know it was Mrs. 2515 words
037 “I won’t have any appeals made to Miss Halcombe,” retorted Sir Percival. 2544 words
038 I had not formed this conclusion in consequence of Sir Percival’s… 2562 words
039 What answer could I make? 2515 words
040 “Why not?” “Because silence is safe, and we have need of safety in… 2657 words
041 On the drive in front of the house we met the dog-cart being taken round to the stables. 2603 words
042 “Did you remember her, Laura, when she told you her name?” “Yes, I… 2549 words
043 For a long walk! They had never yet been in each other’s company with… 2528 words
044 After skirting round by the back of the building, first on one side… 2506 words
045 “You would have called him so yourself, Marian, if you had known what I know. 2509 words
046 “Is the key in the door, Marian? 2516 words
047 When I crossed the hall again no one was there, and the singing of… 2525 words
048 “I am afraid, Countess, you are not quite so well as usual?” I said. 2517 words
049 Meanwhile, Sir Percival and the Count began talking together below… 2525 words
050 “It’s very well to say speak,” replied Sir Percival, in a far more… 2579 words
051 Why do I sit here still? Why do I weary my hot eyes and my burning… 2504 words
052 Her ladyship, the Countess, explained her unexpected appearance at… 2505 words
053 “I am afraid you are suffering to-day,” said the Count. 2542 words
054 He waved his horrid hand at me—he struck his infectious breast—he… 2559 words
055 I was now left in sole charge of Miss Halcombe, with every apparent… 2562 words
056 The only person among us who did not appear to be relieved by these… 2542 words
057 I listened to him, perfectly aghast with astonishment. 2555 words
058 “Why does Marian go to Limmeridge and leave me here by myself?” said… 2514 words
059 I had never liked Sir Percival, but the manner in which he left Lady… 2510 words
060 “Very well! That’s all I want to know. If people apply for your… 2501 words
061 It was some time before he could make himself of much use. 2525 words
062 My pen traces the old letters as my heart goes back to the old love. 2632 words
063 II My position is defined—my motives are acknowledged. 2567 words
064 She obtained permission to speak alone with the patient, on condition… 2623 words
065 These were the only recollections—all of them uncertain, and some of… 2585 words
066 The one remaining chance, which I had at first thought might be… 2515 words
067 Without wasting a moment in prefatory words of any sort, I entered on… 2641 words
068 I found Marian waiting for me alone in the little sitting-room. 2590 words
069 I was prepared to be watched on the way from Blackwater Park to the… 2518 words
070 Mrs. Clements did all in her power to oppose the execution of this… 2570 words
071 “Was your husband acquainted with them before that?” “With Catherick… 2509 words
072 The next object of inquiry, whether it was equally certain that Sir… 2611 words
073 Her face grew eager, and brightened into a smile. 2562 words
074 She searched in the pocket of her gown, drew out a pair of black lace… 2554 words
075 The train was on the point of starting, and two or three passengers… 2709 words
076 My anxiety to examine the register did not dispose me to offer much… 2528 words
077 We went on to the town-hall. 2541 words
078 I started from the town at a brisk pace, and kept the middle of the road. 2998 words
079 “Where is he?” whispered the servant, staring vacantly at the flames. 2507 words
080 This is the nearest approach that any theory of mine can make towards… 2653 words
081 Old Welmingham suited his purpose as well as Knowlesbury. 2570 words
082 “Leave us,” he said, looking at her over his shoulder. 2505 words
083 My new acquaintance had some knowledge of the late Sir Percival’s… 2660 words
084 “What made you think of coming to this place?” “My ignorance of other… 2630 words
085 So the ghostly figure which has haunted these pages, as it haunted my… 2572 words
086 The door opened, and Laura came in alone. 2532 words
087 This consideration at once decided the disposal of my evening. 2726 words
088 He whispered the next words in my ear. 2629 words
089 I left my room to go down to the ground floor of the house, and speak… 2531 words
090 He read the lines aloud: “Your letter is received. 2550 words
091 “Done, Mr. Hartright!” he announced with a self-renovating thump of… 2610 words
092 I was rewarded for posting myself sentinel at the lake by the… 2531 words
093 In the meanwhile I had followed in another cab, with a note for Anne… 2563 words
094 Getting the boxes! I recollected immediately that Laura’s own account… 2507 words
095 II Two more events remain to be added to the chain before it reaches… 2525 words

The Woman in White

Table of Contents