Produced by David Edwards, Katherine Becker and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) CECIL CASTLEMAINE'S GAGE, LADY MARABOUT'S TROUBLES, AND OTHER STORIES. BY "OUIDA," AUTHOR OF "IDALIA," "STRATHMORE," "CHANDOS," "GRANVILLE DE VIGNE," ETC. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY. 1900. CECIL CASTLEMAINE'S GAGE, AND OTHER STORIES. ADVERTISEMENT. The Publishers have the pleasure of offering to the many admirers of the writings of "Ouida," the present volume of Contributions, which have appeared from time to time in the leading Journals of Europe, and which have recently been collected and revised by the author, for publication in book-form. They have also in press, to be speedily published, another similar volume of tales, from the same pen, together with an unpublished romance entitled "UNDER TWO FLAGS." Our editions of Ouida's Works are published by express arrangement with the author; and any other editions that may appear in the American market will be issued in violation of the courtesies usually extended both to authors and publishers. PHILADELPHIA, MAY, 1867. CONTENTS PAGE CECIL CASTLEMAINE'S GAGE; OR, THE STORY OF A BROIDERED SHIELD 11 LITTLE GRAND AND THE MARCHIONESS; OR, OUR MALTESE PEERAGE 37 LADY MARABOUT'S TROUBLES; OR, THE WORRIES OF A CHAPERONE.-- _In Three Seasons_:-- Season the First.--The Eligible 84 Season the Second.--The Ogre 121 Season the Third.--The Climax 164 A STUDY À LA LOUIS QUINZE; OR, PENDANT TO A PASTEL BY LA TOUR 211 I. The First Morning 212 II. The Second Morning 218 III. Midnight 227 "DEADLY DASH." A STORY TOLD ON THE OFF DAY. 235 THE GENERAL'S MATCH-MAKING; OR, COACHES AND COUSINSHIP 265 THE STORY OF A CRAYON-HEAD; OR, A DOUBLED-DOWN LEAF IN A MAN'S LIFE 306 THE BEAUTY OF VICQ D'AZYR; OR, NOT AT ALL A PROPER PERSON 339 A STUDY À LA LOUIS QUATORZE: PENDANT TO A PORTRAIT BY MIGNARD 368 CECIL CASTLEMAINE'S GAGE; OR, THE STORY OF A BROIDERED SHIELD.