Produced by Charles Aldarondo The Works of E. P. ROE FROM JEST TO EARNEST DEDICATION. This book is dedicated in fraternal affection to the friend of my youth and maturer years--the REV. A. MOSS MERWIN, who, with every avenue of earthly ambition open to him at home, and with every motive urged upon him to remain at home, has been for years, and is now, a faithful missionary in a foreign land. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. A PRACTICAL JOKE CHAPTER II. THE VICTIM CHAPTER III. PUZZLED AND INTERESTED CHAPTER IV. A LITTLE PAGAN CHAPTER V. PLAIN TALK CHAPTER VI. A SLEIGH-RIDE AND SOMETHING MORE CHAPTER VII. ANOTHER SPELL THAN BEAUTY'S CHAPTER VIII. FINDING ONE'S LEVEL CHAPTER IX. "THE OTHER SET" CHAPTER X. HUMAN NATURE CHAPTER XI. A POSSIBLE TRAGEDY CHAPTER XII. MISS MARSDEN ASKS SOMBRE QUESTIONS CHAPTER XIII. A LOVER QUENCHED CHAPTER XIV. LOTTIE A MYSTERIOUS PROBLEM CHAPTER XV. HEMSTEAD SEES "OUR SET" CHAPTER XVI. HOW WOMAN MAKES OR MARS CHAPTER XVII. MIDNIGHT VIGILS CHAPTER XVIII. HEMSTEAD'S HEAVY GUN AND ITS RECOIL CHAPTER XIX. THE PREACHER TAUGHT BY THE PAGAN CHAPTER XX. THE DAWNING LIGHT CHAPTER XXI. MISUNDERSTOOD CHAPTER XXII. "YOU MUST WAIT AND SEE" CHAPTER XXIII. A RATIONALIST OF THE OLD SCHOOL CHAPTER XXIV. THE TERROR OF A GREAT FEAR CHAPTER XXV. A TRUE KNIGHT CHAPTER XXVI. ON A CRUMBLING ICE-FLOE CHAPTER XXVII. THE MEETING AND GREETING CHAPTER XXVIII. THE TRIAL OF LOVE CHAPTER XXIX. HEMSTEAD'S ADVICE, AND LOTTIE'S COLORS CHAPTER XXX. AROUND THE YULE-LOG CHAPTER XXXI. UNDER THE MISTLETOE CHAPTER XXXII. THE CHRISTMAS SUNDAY CHAPTER XXXIII. THE END OF THE "JEST" CHAPTER XXXIV. LOYAL CHAPTER XXXV. MR. DIMMERLY CONCLUDES TO "MEDDLE" CHAPTER XXXVI. A NIGHT IN THE SNOW CHAPTER XXXVII. IN EARNEST FROM JEST TO EARNEST. CHAPTER I. A PRACTICAL JOKE. On a cloudy December morning a gentleman, two ladies, and a boy stepped down from the express train at a station just above the Highlands on the Hudson. A double sleigh, overflowing with luxurious robes, stood near, and a portly coachman with difficulty restrained his spirited horses while the little party arranged themselves for a winter ride. Both the ladies were young, and the gentleman's anxious and almost tender solicitude for one of them seemed hardly warranted by her blooming cheeks and sprightly movements. A close observer might soon suspect that his assiduous attentions were caused by a malady of his own rather than by indisposition on her part. The other young lady received but scant politeness, though seemingly in greater need of it. But the words of Scripture applied to her beautiful companion, "Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance." She had been surfeited all her life with attention, and though she would certainly have felt its absence, as she would the loss of wealth, life-long familiarity with both led her to place no special value upon them.