Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 12334-h.htm or 12334-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/3/3/12334/12334-h/12334-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/3/3/12334/12334-h.zip) A BICYCLE OF CATHAY A Novel By Frank R. Stockton Author of "The Great Stone of Sardis," "The Associate Hermits" etc. Illustrated by Orson Lowell 1900 [Illustration: The doctor's daughter] CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER II. A BAD TWIST III. THE DUKE'S DRESSING-GOWN IV. A BIT OF ADVICE V. THE LADY AND THE CAVALIER VI. THE HOLLY SPRIG INN VII. MRS. CHESTER IS TROUBLED VIII. ORSO IX. A RUNAWAY X. THE LARRAMIE FAMILY XI. THE THREE MCKENNAS XII. BACK TO THE HOLLY SPRIG XIII. A MAN WITH A LETTER XIV. MISS EDITH IS DISAPPOINTED XV. MISS WILLOUGHBY XVI. AN ICICLE XVII. A FORECASTER OF HUMAN PROBABILITIES XVIII. REPENTANCE AVAILS NOT XIX. BEAUTY, PURITY, AND PEACE XX. BACK FROM CATHAY ILLUSTRATIONS THE DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER HALF-TITLE "I PUT ON MY COAT" "THE RAIN WAS COMING DOWN HARD" "ON MY RIGHT A LIGHTED DOORWAY" A FEW THOUGHTS "THE BEAUTY OF HER TEETH" "I KICKED OFF MY EMBROIDERED SLIPPERS" "IT WOULD BE WELL FOR ME TO SWALLOW A CAPSULE" "AS SOON AS I HAD SPOKEN THESE WORDS" "I DISMOUNTED AND APPROACHED THE WALL" "I THOUGHT FOR A FEW MOMENTS" "I WENT OUT FOR A WALK" MRS. CHESTER "SHE BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT WALFORD" "BUT WE WERE NOT ALONE" "TO MY LEFT I SAW A LINE OF TREES" "HE WAS RUNNING AWAY" "HE SOON FELT THAT HE WAS UNDER CONTROL" "A LITTLE ARMY HAD THROWN ITSELF UPON ME" "'WOULD IT BE EASIER TO MANAGE A BOY OR A BEAR?'" "I TAPPED MY LEFT PALM" "THERE WAS A SUDDEN FLUSH UPON HER FACE" "THE SCENE VIVIDLY RECURRED TO MY MIND" DECIPHERING THE DAGO'S LETTER "'I DON'T THINK YOU OUGHT TO TAKE THIS LETTER'" "'DO YOU THINK YOU COULD HIT IT WITH AN APPLE?'" "TALKING ABOUT BABY BEARS" "I HELD THAT PICTURE A GOOD WHILE" "'NO, SIR,' SHE SAID" "CUT LIKE THAT" EUROPA [Illustration] CHAPTER I THE DOCTOR'S DAUGHTER It was a beautiful summer morning when slowly I wheeled my way along the principal street of the village of Walford. A little valise was strapped in front of my bicycle; my coat, rolled into a small compass, was securely tied under the seat, and I was starting out to spend my vacation. I was the teacher of the village school, which useful institution had been closed for the season the day before, much to the gratification of pedagogue and scholars. This position was not at all the summit of my youthful ambition. In fact, I had been very much disappointed when I found myself obliged to accept it, but when I left college my financial condition made it desirable for me to do something to support myself while engaged in some of the studies preparatory to a professional career.