The Wilkie Collins Library

In which Uncle Joseph discovers his niece Sarah fainted mysteriously in the dismal northern part of the house, leading to a tense encounter with the domineering steward and housekeeper, who scrutinise their conduct with suspicion and demand explanations. Despite their veiled threats and officious inquisition, the visitors maintain a dignified composure and, with a discreet aid from the household,...

In which the arrival of a mysterious lady and an old foreigner at Porthgenna Tower sets in motion a bewildering pursuit of a secret chamber known as the Myrtle Room, stirring varied conjectures and fruitless inquiries among the local servants and family friends. The narrative then follows Mrs. Frankland and her husband as they resolve to enlist the help of an estranged relative, Andrew Treverton,...

In which Uncle Joseph and his niece depart from the ominous Porthgenna Tower, their journey shadowed by suspicion and the watchful eye of a mysterious boy, compelling them to take cautious steps to evade lurking dangers. As they part ways, the melancholy strains of a musical box echo their sorrowful farewell, marking a poignant moment of reluctant resignation and tender affection.

In which a troubled lady named Sarah Leeson returns to her Uncle Joseph's modest shop in Truro, confiding in him her fearful secret connected to a hidden letter left by her mistress, and her urgent need to remove it before new occupants unknowingly discover it. The gentle, simple-hearted Uncle Joseph, moved by her distress, offers solace, steadfast support, and a resolve to share in the risks that...

In which a determined niece sets forth on a journey to Porthgenna Tower, accompanied by her steadfast Uncle Joseph, whose cheerful simplicity contrasts with her serious purpose, while meanwhile within the house, the household is thrown into perplexity over a mysterious letter instructing vigilant observation of a visitor. They approach the lonely mansion with a mixture of hope and apprehension, co...

In which a curious pair of visitors are shown about the mysterious and somewhat dilapidated Porthgenna Tower under the watchful eyes of an uneasy housekeeper and a cantankerous steward, while whispered tales of ghosts and forbidden rooms stir a strange atmosphere. Amidst growing tensions and peculiar vanities, the lady in quiet dress slips away to explore the desolate north wing, drawn by fears an...

In which Mr. Orridge confronts the sudden dismissal of a nurse from the Tiger’s Head under mysterious circumstances, leading to a peculiar warning whispered in the ear of Mrs. Frankland that piques the curiosity of all present. The episode concludes with Rosamond’s resolve to uncover the truth about a secretive chamber in their ancestral home, despite the ominous counsel she has received.

In which a new nurse arrives at the Tiger’s Head to tend to the ailing Mrs. Frankland, whose restless habits and curious interest in an old Cornish house pique both the doctor’s and her own suspicions. As the evening darkens, the nurse’s peculiar behaviour and mysterious warning cast a shadow of unease over the quiet chamber, culminating in a sudden outburst that unsettles all present.

In which the good doctor Orridge makes swift inquiries into the curious conduct of Mrs. Jazeph, the housekeeper whose sudden departure and mysterious behaviour have raised many eyebrows. His diligent investigation reveals the tangled threads of domestic discontent and strange resolve, leading him to uncover the direction of her journey with a mix of professional zeal and gentle perplexity.

In which the once lively halls of Porthgenna Tower fall silent following grievous news, and the household waits with growing anticipation and unease for the return of its absent master and mistress. The anticipation is mingled with whispered gossip and the shadowy possibility of new beginnings, yet unexplained delays cast a sombre veil over their awaited arrival.

In which we are introduced to the singularly misanthropic Mr. Andrew Treverton, whose solitary existence at Bayswater is marked by a stern rejection of society and its conventions, aided only by his equally cantankerous servant, Shrowl. The news of his brother's tragic death stirs a rare moment of introspection in Mr. Treverton, casting a sombre light on his bitter detachment and the ghosts of fam...

In which the sudden birth of a child at an inn in Somersetshire interrupts the Franklands’ journey and sets the local town abuzz with speculation and concern, whilst the lady’s nurse falls ill, prompting an earnest search for a suitable replacement. It is then that Mrs. Jazeph, a gentle but delicately suffering housekeeper with a shadowed past, offers her services as nurse, and despite some medica...

In which the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Frankland take possession of furnished lodgings by the sea, where their affectionate and curious interactions are observed with amused and somewhat scandalised interest by their landlady's diligent daughter, Miss Mowlem. Meanwhile, Mr. Frankland receives a detailed survey of the dilapidated family estate, Porthgenna Tower, prompting the couple to plan a future vi...

In which the quiet village of Long Beckley conceals a secret marriage under the shroud of early morning mist, involving a blind groom whose affliction deeply touches the hearts of those around him. We are then introduced to the vicar and his household, whose lively breakfast conversation reveals the intertwining lives and histories of the young couple and their distinguished families with a delica...

In which the vicar recounts the intricate history and family quarrels surrounding the sale of a Cornish estate, interspersed with the amusing trials of teaching arithmetic and the whimsical afflictions of his dyspeptic friend, Mr. Phippen. This pastoral scene, set against the backdrop of old feuds and youthful affection, presents a hopeful marriage entwined with the restoration of ancient lands an...

In which Sarah Leeson, burdened by a solemn secret entrusted to her on a death-bed, resolves to conceal a mysterious letter within the neglected north rooms of Porthgenna Tower, weighed down by fear and guilt as she prepares to leave the household in secret. The narrative follows her furtive actions and consequent departure, leaving unresolved questions and a silent void in the once familiar house...

In which Sarah Leeson wrestles with the heavy burden of a secret entrusted to her by her late mistress, her frail mind torn between duty and dread as she contemplates revealing the contents of a crucial letter. Her uneasy vigil leads her through shadowed rooms and whispered reflections, culminating in a poignant moment of tenderness beside a grieving father and his child.

In which the quiet gloom of a Cornish country-house frames the last hours of a lady whose health and spirit have long been in decline, attended only by a devoted but mysterious maid whose own past seems shadowed by secret sorrow. The heavy air of impending loss is made all the more poignant by ominous instructions and the silent suspense that hangs upon the unwritten words destined for a husband’s...