Chapter XIV

— MENTAL STOCKTAKING

THE GRIM SMILE OF THE FIVE TOWNS

By Arnold Bennett

CONTENTS

The Lion's Share Baby's Bath The Silent Brothers The Nineteenth Hat Vera's First Christmas Adventure The Murder of the Mandarin Vera's Second Christmas Adventure The Burglary News of the Engagement Beginning the New Year From One Generation to Another The Death of Simon Fuge In a New Bottle

THE OLD WIVES’ TALE By Arnold Bennett

CONTENTS

PREFACE TO THIS EDITION

## BOOK I — MRS. BAINES

## CHAPTER I — THE SQUARE

## CHAPTER II — THE TOOTH

## CHAPTER III — A BATTLE

## CHAPTER IV — ELEPHANT

## CHAPTER V — THE TRAVELLER

## CHAPTER VI — ESCAPADE

## CHAPTER VII — A DEFEAT

## BOOK II — CONSTANCE

## CHAPTER I — REVOLUTION

## CHAPTER II — CHRISTMAS AND THE FUTURE

## CHAPTER III — CYRIL

## CHAPTER IV — CRIME

## CHAPTER V — ANOTHER CRIME

## CHAPTER VI — THE WIDOW

## CHAPTER VII — BRICKS AND MORTAR

## CHAPTER VIII — THE PROUDEST MOTHER

## BOOK III — SOPHIA

## CHAPTER I — THE ELOPEMENT

## CHAPTER II — SUPPER

## CHAPTER III — AN AMBITION SATISFIED

## CHAPTER IV — A CRISIS FOR GERALD

## CHAPTER V — FEVER

## CHAPTER VI — THE SIEGE

## CHAPTER VII — SUCCESS

## BOOK IV — WHAT LIFE IS

## CHAPTER I — FRENSHAM’S

## CHAPTER II — THE MEETING

## CHAPTER III — TOWARDS HOTEL LIFE

## CHAPTER IV — END OF SOPHIA

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