This book is dedicated in fraternal affection to the friend of myyouth and maturer years—the REV. A. MOSS MERWIN, who, with everyavenue of earthly ambition open to him at home, and with everymotive urged upon him to remain at home, has been for years, andis now, a faithful missionary in a foreign land.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. A PRACTICAL JOKE
CHAPTER II. THE VICTIM
CHAPTER III. PUZZLED AND INTERESTED
CHAPTER IV. A LITTLE PAGAN
CHAPTER V. PLAIN TALK
CHAPTER VI. A SLEIGH-RIDE AND SOMETHING MORE
CHAPTER VII. ANOTHER SPELL THAN BEAUTY'S
CHAPTER VIII. FINDING ONE'S LEVEL
CHAPTER IX. "THE OTHER SET"
CHAPTER X. HUMAN NATURE
CHAPTER XI. A POSSIBLE TRAGEDY
CHAPTER XII. MISS MARSDEN ASKS SOMBRE QUESTIONS
CHAPTER XIII. A LOVER QUENCHED
CHAPTER XIV. LOTTIE A MYSTERIOUS PROBLEM
CHAPTER XV. HEMSTEAD SEES "OUR SET"
CHAPTER XVI. HOW WOMAN MAKES OR MARS
CHAPTER XVII. MIDNIGHT VIGILS
CHAPTER XVIII. HEMSTEAD'S HEAVY GUN AND ITS RECOIL
CHAPTER XIX. THE PREACHER TAUGHT BY THE PAGAN
CHAPTER XX. THE DAWNING LIGHT
CHAPTER XXI. MISUNDERSTOOD
CHAPTER XXII. "YOU MUST WAIT AND SEE"
CHAPTER XXIII. A RATIONALIST OF THE OLD SCHOOL
CHAPTER XXIV. THE TERROR OF A GREAT FEAR
CHAPTER XXV. A TRUE KNIGHT
CHAPTER XXVI. ON A CRUMBLING ICE-FLOE
CHAPTER XXVII. THE MEETING AND GREETING
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE TRIAL OF LOVE
CHAPTER XXIX. HEMSTEAD'S ADVICE, AND LOTTIE'S COLORS
CHAPTER XXX. AROUND THE YULE-LOG
CHAPTER XXXI. UNDER THE MISTLETOE
CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHRISTMAS SUNDAY
CHAPTER XXXIII. THE END OF THE "JEST"
CHAPTER XXXIV. LOYAL
CHAPTER XXXV. MR. DIMMERLY CONCLUDES TO "MEDDLE"
CHAPTER XXXVI. A NIGHT IN THE SNOW
CHAPTER XXXVII. IN EARNEST
FROM JEST TO EARNEST.
CHAPTER I.
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
On a cloudy December morning a gentleman, two ladies, and a boystepped down from the express train at a station just above theHighlands on the Hudson. A double sleigh, overflowing with luxuriousrobes, stood near, and a portly coachman with difficulty restrainedhis spirited horses while the little party arranged themselves fora winter ride. Both the ladies were young, and the gentleman'sanxious and almost tender solicitude for one of them seemed hardlywarranted by her blooming cheeks and sprightly movements. A closeobserver might soon suspect that his assiduous attentions werecaused by a malady of his own rather than by indisposition on herpart.
The other young lady received but scant politeness, though seeminglyin greater need of it. But the words of Scripture applied toher beautiful companion, "Whosoever hath, to him shall be given,and he sh