[Illustration: M432 “FRANCES CAUGHT SIGHT OF A DARK FIGURE ADVANCING.”] A GIRL OF TO-DAY BY ELLINOR DAVENPORT ADAMS Author of “Miss Secretary Ethel”, “Comrades True”, “Colonel Russell’s Baby”, “May, Guy, and Jim”, &c. _WITH SIX ILLUSTRATIONS BY GERTRUDE DEMAIN HAMMOND, R.I._ [Illustration] LONDON BLACKIE & SON, Limited, 50 OLD BAILEY, E.C. GLASGOW AND DUBLIN 1899 CONTENTS. Chap. Page I. Brother and Sister, 9 II. Boys and Girls together, 24 III. Adventurers Four, 36 IV. Rowdon Smithy, 53 V. Doctor Max, 65 VI. Music and Mumming, 82 VII. Photographers Abroad, 103 VIII. Jim East, 124 IX. Frances Falters, 150 X. Trouble at Elveley, 165 XI. The Head of the House, 186 XII. A Gentleman-Blacksmith, 209 XIII. “Missy”, 222 XIV. Mrs. Holland’s Trio, 239 XV. Polly’s Deliverer, 256 XVI. Wanted--A Nice Somebody, 269 XVII. Lessing of Lessing’s Creek, 274 XVIII. To the Far South, 283 ILLUSTRATIONS. Page “Frances caught sight of a dark figure advancing”, _Frontis._ 123 “The old man leaned forward suddenly to scan the speaker’s face”, 58 “A story we bring you from Faëry Land”, 91 “Nay, Elizabeth,” said Jim kindly, “there’s no need for locking up”, 197 “The figure moved, rose, came forward with the painful caution of dreary suspense”, 269 “Ah! but you would make such a mistake if you thought we would let you go”, 283 [Illustration] A GIRL OF TO-DAY. CHAPTER I. BROTHER AND SISTER. “Here you are, then, Sis! Here you are--at last!” The final words, spoken in a tone of complete satisfaction, accompanied a daring dive of hand and arm through the open window of the still moving railway-carriage. “You ridiculous boy! We are only five minutes behind time!” Frances seized the intruding hand in a firm grip; and, as the train stopped, leaned out of the window to bestow a sisterly hug. “Its good to see you, dear! How brown and jolly you look! The country agrees with you, Austin; I thought it would.” “Well, I don’t know. It was fearfully slow here at first, after Allerton. Of course, now--. Oh, come along, Frances! I’ve heaps to tell you, once we’re on the road. I wouldn’t bring the trap, because I wanted time for a good talk all to ourselves; and I knew the mile walk from the station to Woodend wouldn’t frighten you. Toss out the parcels! I suppose you’ve a few dozen. What, only one? Hallo! they’ve taught you something at school.”