OF VOLUME I.
CHAPTER I.
How Diamond cut Diamond, and how the Sparks flew
CHAPTER II.
How Margaret pleads for the little Hoyden, and with what Ill-success
CHAPTER III.
How Lady Rylton says a few Things that would have been better left unsaid. How "The Scheme" is laid before Sir Maurice, and how he refuses to have anything to do with it
CHAPTER IV.
How the Heart of Maurice grew hot within him, and how he put the
Question to the Touch, and how he neither lost nor won
CHAPTER V.
Showing how, when People do congregate together much Knowledge may be found, and how the little Hoyden has some kind Things said about her
CHAPTER VI.
How Games were played, "of Sorts"; and how Tita was much harried, but how she bore herself valiantly, and, how, not knowing of her Victories, she won all through
CHAPTER VII.
How the Argument grows higher; and how Marian loses her Temper, and how Margaret objects to the Ruin of one young Life
CHAPTER VIII.
How a Storm raged; and how, when a Man and Woman met Face to Face, the Victory—for a Wonder—went to the Man
CHAPTER IX.
How Maurice places his Life in the Hands of the Hoyden, and how she tells him many Things, and desires many Things of him
CHAPTER X.
How Maurice gives Way to Temper, and how Lady Rylton plants a Shaft or two. And how Margaret says a Word in Season, and how in return Colonel Neilson says a Word to her
CHAPTER XI.
How the last Day comes, and how some strange Words are said before the Marriage is accomplished; and how Marion Bethune scores a Point
CHAPTER XII.
How Tita comes back from her Honeymoon, and how her Husband's Mother tells her of certain Things that should have been left untold
CHAPTER XIII.
How a young and lovely Nature takes a Shock most cruelly administered. And how a Dowager takes a new Name as a direct Insult. And how Tita declines to promise anything
CHAPTER XIV.
How Tita comes to Oakdean, and is glad. And how Maurice calls to her, and she performs an Acrobatic Feat. And how a Discussion arises
CHAPTER XV.
How Tita tells of two strange Dreams, and of how they moved her. And how Maurice sets his Soul on asking a Guest to Oakdean; and how he gains his Desire
CHAPTER XVI.
How a dull Morning gives Birth to a strange Afternoon. And how
Rylton's Eyes are widened by a Friend
CHAPTER XVII.
How Tita suggests a Game of Blind Man's Buff, and what comes of it
CHAPTER XVIII.
How Tita gets a Scolding, and how she rebels and accuses Sir Maurice of Breach of Contract
CHAPTER XIX.
How Rylton's Heart condemns him. And how, as he walks, a Serpent stings him. And how he is recovered of his Wound. And how the little Rift is mended—but with too fine Thread
CHAPTER XX.
How Tita takes high Ground, and how she brings her Husband, of all
People, to her Feet
CHAPTER XXI.
How everyone goes to Lady Warbeck's Dance, and helps to make it a
Success; and how many curious Things are said and done there
CHAPTER XXII.
How Rylton asks his Wife to tread a Measure with him, and how the
Fates weave a little Mesh for Tita's pretty Feet
CHAPTER XXIII.
How Marian fights for Mastery; and how the Battle goes; and how
Chance befriends the Enemy
CHAPTER XXIV.
How Rylton makes a most dishonourable Bet, and how he repents of it; and how, though he would have withdrawn from it, he finds he cannot
CHAPTER XXV.
How Tita told a Secret to Tom Hescott in the Moonlight; and how he sought to discover many Things, and how he was most innocently baffled
CHAPTER XXVI.
How Tita looks at herself in the Glass, and wonders; and how she does her Hair in quite a new Style, and goes to ask Sir Maurice what he thinks of it; and how he answers her
CHAPTER XXVII.
How Sir Maurice feels uneasy; and how Tita, for once, shows herself implacable, and refuses to accept the Overtures of Peace. And how a little Gossip warms the Air
THE HOYDEN.
CHAPTER I.
HOW DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND, AND HOW THE SPARKS FLEW.
The windows are all wide open, and through them the warm, lazy summer wind is stealing languidly. The perfume of the seringas from the shrubbery beyond, mingled with all the lesser but more delicate delights of the garden beneath, comes with the wind, and fills the drawing-room of The Place with a vague, almost drowsy sense of sweetness.
Mrs. Bethune, with a face that smiles always, though now her very soul is in revolt, leans back against the cushions of her lounging chair, her fine red hair making a rich contrast with the pale-blue satin behind it.
"You think he will marry her, then?"
"Think, think!" says Lady Rylton pettishly. "I can't afford to think about it. I tell you he must marry her. It has come to the very last ebb with us now, and unless