E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 19310-h.htm or 19310-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/1/19310/19310-h/19310-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/3/1/19310/19310-h.zip) HAPPY POLLYOOLY The Rich Little Poor Girl by EDGAR JEPSON Author of Pollyooly, Whitaker's Dukedom, Etc. With Illustrations by Reginald Birch [Frontispiece: She bit the end of her pencil] Indianapolis The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers Copyright 1915 The Bobbs-Merrill Company CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE HONOURABLE JOHN RUFFIN MAKES AN ARRANGEMENT II HILARY VANCE FINDS A CONFIDANTE III THE INFURIATED SWAINS IV THE DUCHESS HAS AN IDEA V POLLYOOLY IS CALLED IN VI POLLYOOLY PLAYS HER FAVOURITE PART VII POLLYOOLY PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN VIII THE QUESTION OF A HOME IX THE RELUCTANT DUKE X POLLYOOLY AND THE LUMP GO TO THE SEASIDE XI POLLYOOLY MEETS THE UNPLEASANT PRINCE XII WHAT THE PRINCE ASKED FOR XIII THE RAPPROCHEMENT XIV THE TRAINING OF ROYALTY XV THE ATTITUDE OF THE GRAND DUKE XVI POLLYOOLY ENTERTAINS ROYALTY XVII THE DUKE HAS AN IDEA XVIII THE DUKE'S IDEA TAKES FORM XIX POLLYOOLY IS INTRODUCED TO THE COUNTY XX POLLYOOLY AND THE DUKE XXI LORD RONALD RICKSBOROUGH COMES TO THE COURT XXII THE DUKE WINS ILLUSTRATIONS She bit the end of the pencil . . . _Frontispiece_ She tiptoed about with hunched shoulders They slept on the bench The Duke gazed at her in dismal discomfort "You keep away" They turned to see the Duchess HAPPY POLLYOOLY CHAPTER I THE HONOURABLE JOHN RUFFIN MAKES AN ARRANGEMENT The angel child looked at the letter from Buda-Pesth with lively interest, for she knew that it came from her friend and patroness Esmeralda, the dancer, who was engaged in a triumphant tour of the continent of Europe. She put it on the top of the pile of letters, mostly bills, which had come for her employer, the Honourable John Ruffin, set the pile beside his plate, and returned to the preparation of his breakfast. She looked full young to hold the post of house-keeper to a barrister of the Inner Temple, for she was not yet thirteen; but there was an uncommonly capable intentness in her deep blue eyes as she watched the bacon, sizzling on the grill, for the right moment to turn the rashers. She never missed it. Now and again those deep blue eyes sparkled at the thought that the Honourable John Ruffin would presently give her news of her brilliant friend.