Cousin Henry
'Cousin Henry' Summary
Indefer Jones is the aged squire, between seventy and eighty years of age, of a large manor, Llanfeare, in Carmarthen, Wales. His niece, Isabel Brodrick, has lived with him for years after the remarriage of her father, and endeared herself to everyone. However, according to his strong traditional beliefs, the estate must be passed down to a male heir.
His sole male blood relative is his nephew Henry Jones, a London clerk. Henry has, in the past, incurred debts that the squire had paid off, been "sent away from Oxford", and generally made a poor impression on his occasional visits to Llanfeare. Nevertheless, Henry is told of his uncle's intention to make him his heir and is invited to pay a visit. Isabel rejects her uncle's suggestion that she solve his dilemma by marrying Henry, as she cannot stand her cousin. Indefer Jones finds his nephew to be just as detestable as ever. As a result, he overcomes his prejudice and changes his will one final time, in Isabel's favour. Unfortunately, he dies before he can tell anyone.
Finding the document hidden in a book of sermons by accident, Henry vacillates between keeping silent and revealing its location. He is neither good enough to give up the estate nor evil enough to burn the document, fearing disgrace, a long jail sentence and, not least, eternal damnation. Instead, he comforts himself by reasoning that doing nothing cannot be a crime.
Indefer Jones had had his last will witnessed by two of his tenants, but since the will cannot be found despite a thorough search of the house, Henry inherits the estate. However, suspicions are only strengthened by his guilty manner. Some of the old squire's longtime servants quit. He takes to spending hours in the library, where the will is hidden.
The local newspaper begins to publish accounts of the affair that are insulting and seemingly libelous to Henry. It accuses him of destroying the will and usurping the estate from Isabel, whom everybody knows and respects. The old squire's lawyer, Mr Apjohn, himself suspecting that Henry knows more than he lets on, approaches the new squire about the articles, pressuring the unwilling young man into taking legal action against the editor. Henry finds that this only makes things worse. The prospect of being cross-examined in the witness box fills him with dread.
Mr Apjohn, by clever questioning, gets a good idea about where the will is. Henry knows that time is running out, but still procrastinates. Mr Apjohn and Mr Brodrick, Isabel's father, visit Henry at home and find the document, despite Henry's ineffectual efforts to stop them. Because he did not destroy the will, Henry is permitted to return to his job in London with his reputation intact and £4000, the amount Isabel was bequeathed in the other will.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1879Author
Anthony Trollope
England
Anthony Trollope was an English novelist and civil servant of the Victorian era. Among his best-known works is a series of novels collectively known as the Chronicles of Barsetshire, which revolves ar...
More on Anthony TrollopeDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Count's Millions and Baron Trigault's Vengeance by Émile Gaboriau
In "The Count's Millions and Baron Trigault's Vengeance" by Émile Gaboriau, a gripping tale of revenge and hidden wealth unfolds in the heart of 19th...
Between the Larch-woods and the Weir by Flora Klickmann
In a small village between the larch-woods and the weir, a young woman is found dead. The villagers are quick to point fingers, but who is the real ki...
Frankenstein, or Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley
A precursor to gothic literature and science fiction genres, Frankenstein is a novel fuming with imagination as it depicts a well known horror story....
The Romance of a Shop by Amy Levy
It centers around the Lorimer sisters who decide to open their own photography business after the death of their father leaves them in poverty. The no...
The House on the Cliff by Franklin W. Dixon
Get ready for a pulse-pounding journey into the world of intrigue and suspense with "The House on the Cliff" by Franklin W. Dixon. Unveil the secrets...
Lonesome Land by B. M. Bower
In the harsh and unforgiving land of Lonesome, a young woman must learn to survive on her own. Lonesome Land is a novel by B. M. Bower, first publish...
The Strength of Gideon and Other Stories by Paul Laurence Dunbar
In the vibrant tapestry of African American literature, Paul Laurence Dunbar's "The Strength of Gideon and Other Stories" stands as a testament to the...
Damon and Delia by William Godwin
In a world where love is often dictated by social status and wealth, Damon and Delia by William Godwin dares to defy convention and explore the depths...
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle thought he had finished forever with his immortal sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his chronicler, Dr Watson. Exhausted and bored wit...
No Name by Wilkie Collins
When Andrew Vanstone is killed suddenly in an accident and his wife follows shortly thereafter, it is revealed that they were not married at the time...
Reviews for Cousin Henry
No reviews posted or approved, yet...