GENERAL BOUNCE [Illustration: “‘Where have you been all day? You promised to drive me out--you know you did!’” _Page 77_] GENERAL BOUNCE or The Lady and the Locusts by G. J. WHYTE-MELVILLE Author of “Katerfelto,” “The Interpreter,” “Market Harborough,” etc. Illustrated by Frances E. Ewan London Ward, Lock & Co., Limited New York and Melbourne PREFACE Where the rose blushes in the garden, there will the bee and the butterfly be found, humming and fluttering around. So is it in the world; the fair girl, whose sweetness is enhanced by the fictitious advantages of wealth and position, will ever have lovers and admirers enough and to spare. Burns was no bad judge of human nature; and he has a stanza on this subject, combining the reflection of the philosopher with the _canny_ discrimination of the Scot. “Away with your follies of beauty’s alarms, The _slender_ bit beauty you clasp in your arms; But gi’e me the lass that has acres of charms, Oh, gi’e me the lass with the _weel-plenished_ farms.” Should the following pages afford such attractive young ladies matter for a few moments’ reflection, the author will not have written in vain. May he hope they will choose well and wisely; and that the withered rose, when she has lost her fragrance, may be fondly prized and gently tended by the hand that plucked her in her dewy morning prime. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. My Cousin 9 II. The Abigail 26 III. The Handsome Governess 41 IV. “Libitina” 58 V. Uncle Baldwin 72 VI. The Blind Boy 85 VII. Boot and Saddle 101 VIII. The Ball 116 IX. Want 130 X. Superfluity 146 XI. Campaigning Abroad 161 XII. Campaigning at Home 177 XIII. The World 194 XIV. To Persons about to Marry 204 XV. Penelope and her Suitors 212 XVI. Forgery 225 XVII. Club Law 236 XVIII. The Strictest Confidence 247 XIX. Dispatches 259 XX. Dawn in the East 276 XXI. Hospital 292 XXII. The Widow 303 XXIII. “Stop her” 309 XXIV. King Crack 323 XXV. “Dulce Domum” 333 XXVI. “Eudæmon” 347 XXVII. Flood and Field 360 XXVIII. “The Sad Sea Wave” 374 GENERAL BOUNCE _OR, THE LADY AND THE LOCUSTS_ CHAPTER I MY COUSIN