[ Yonge / Magnum Bonum ]
This three-volume novel — the title is Latin for "The Great Good" — features a female doctor and her struggle against Victorian social norms. The work's first reference to Newfoundlands occurs in Chapter 21:
They stood laughing and declaring that Babie would be convinced that fairies came out on Sunday, then crossed the river and were beginning to ascend the path when a volley of sounds broke on them, a shrill yap giving the alarm, louder notes joining in, and the bass being supplied by a formidable deep-mouthed bark, as out of the farmyard-gate dashed little terrier, curly spaniel, slim greyhounds, surly sheep-dog of the old tailless sort, and big and mighty Newfoundland, and there they stood in a row, shouting forth defiance in all gradations of note, so that, though frightened, Carey and Janet could not help laughing. . . .
The next (and last) reference to Newfs occurs late in the novel, in Chapter 36, where some of the principal characters are reviewing a list of people invited to dinner:
"I never thought of the boy."
"If you did not, you saved him — twice!"
"A Newfoundland-dog instinct. But I am glad the little scamp is not the worse. I suppose he is to appear to-morrow?"
"Oh, yes! and the vicar begs no notice may be taken of him. He is really a very naughty little fellow, and if he is made a hero for getting himself and us so nearly drowned by birds'-nesting on a Sunday in the park, it will be perfectly demoralising!"