DULCIE CARLYON. A Novel. BY JAMES GRANT, AUTHOR OF 'THE ROMANCE OF WAR,' ETC. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: WARD AND DOWNEY, 12, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1886. [_All Rights Reserved._] NEW NOVELS AT EVERY LIBRARY. FROM THE SILENT PAST. By Mrs. HERBERT MARTIN. 2 Vols. COWARD AND COQUETTE. By the Author of 'The Parish of Hilby.' 1 vol. MIND, BODY, AND ESTATE. By the Author of 'Olive Varcoe.' 3 vols. AT THE RED GLOVE. By KATHARINE S. MACQUOID. 3 vols. WHERE TEMPESTS BLOW. By the Author of 'Miss Elvester's Girls.' 3 vols. IN SIGHT OF LAND. By Lady DUFFUS HARDY. 3 vols. AS IN A LOOKING-GLASS. By F. C. PHILIPS. 1 vol. LORD VANECOURT'S DAUGHTER. By MABEL COLLINS. 3 vols. WARD AND DOWNEY, PUBLISHERS, LONDON. In Loving Memory OF MY ELDEST SON, JAMES SIMPSON GRANT, _Captain Cheshire Regiment,_ I INSCRIBE THIS MILITARY STORY. CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER I. IN THE HOWE OF THE MEARNS II. WEDDED III. THE SPURNED OFFER IV. REVELSTOKE COTTAGE V. DULCIE VI. THE SECRET PACKET VII. A FAREWELL VIII. THE SILVER LOCKET IX. MR. KIPPILAW, W.S. X. ALONE IN THE WORLD XI. SHAFTO IN CLOVER XII. VIVIAN HAMMERSLEY XIII. AMONG THE GROUSE XIV. THE TWO FINELLAS XV. AT REVELSTOKE AGAIN XVI. ''TIS BUT THE OLD, OLD STORY' XVII. AT CRAIGENGOWAN XVIII. AT THE BUFFALO RIVER XIX. ELANDSBERGEN XX. BAFFLED! DULCIE CARLYON. CHAPTER I. IN THE HOWE OF THE MEARNS. 'This will end in a scene, Fettercairn, and you know how I hate scenes.' 'So do I, they are such deuced bad form.' 'I shall need all my self-possession to get over the _esclandre_ this affair may cause,' exclaimed the lady, fanning herself violently. 'Well, life is made up of getting over things,' responded her husband. 'But not things so disgraceful as this, Fettercairn!' 'Is this son of yours in his senses?' 'Who is that loves? it has been asked,' said the culprit referred to. 'A marriage between you and a penniless girl in her rank of life is not to be thought of, Lennard.' 'Her rank of life, father?' 'Yes!' 'Her father's rank was superior to that of the first of our family, when life began with him.' 'What is that to you or to me now?' 'Much to me.' 'Too much, it would seem.' The excited speakers were a Peer, Cosmo, Lord Fettercairn, his wife, the Lady thereof, and their youngest son, Lennard Melfort, a captain of the line, home on leave from India, who had been somewhat timidly venturing to break--knowing the inordinate family vanity of his parents--we say to break the news of his love for a girl possessed of more beauty than this world's goods; and, in his excitement and indignation, his lordship's usual easy, indolent, and drawling way was forgotten now when addressing his son.