[Illustration: “Didn’t exaggerate, did I?” he went on (page 227)] A MODERN TRIO IN AN OLD TOWN BY KATHARINE HAVILAND TAYLOR Author of “Real Stuff,” “Natalie Page,” “Barbara of Baltimore,” etc. ILLUSTRATED BY MORGAN DENNIS [Illustration] NEW YORK HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY, INC. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. BY THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY RAHWAY, N. J. TO BONNIE BELL GUERNSEY AND JESSIE ELIZABETH GUERNSEY WITH A VERY GREAT DEAL OF MY LOVE CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I APPREHENSIONS 1 II THE END OF ONE JOURNEY AND THE START OF ANOTHER 8 III LUNCH AND SOME MODERN HISTORY 17 IV FLORENCE AND THE NEW HOME 27 V NEW FRIENDS, A NEW DAY AND NEW PLANS 38 VI MISS PARRISH AND MISS HARRIS-CLARKE 46 VII GETTING ACQUAINTED 56 VIII SIGNOR PAGGI’S COMPLIMENTS 68 IX A STROLLING PICNIC 77 X CREAM PUFFS, THE TWILIGHT AND-- 94 XI ENTER--SAM DEANE! 103 XII DARK CLOUDS 117 XIII A PATCH OF BLUE SKY 129 XIV STORIES, MUSIC AND TEA 139 XV FLORENTINE WINTER 149 XVI PLANS FOR A PARTY 159 XVII CUPID AND A LADY SANTA CLAUS 167 XVIII THE EFFECT OF A SECRET 182 XIX CHANGES 197 XX A COUNTRY WEDDING AND THE COMING OF SPRING 208 XXI FIESOLE, A CLEAR HOT DAY, AND A COOL GARDEN 220 XXII A WALK ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON 238 XXIII MISCHIEVOUS CUPID 253 XXIV HOMEWARD BOUND 261 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE “Didn’t exaggerate, did I?” he went on (page 227) _Frontispiece_ “Isn’t this simply ghastly?” 60 “My name is Sam Deane,” he announced 110 Mr. Hemmingway got so gay that he kissed Miss Meek 180 A MODERN TRIO IN AN OLD TOWN CHAPTER ONE APPREHENSIONS