Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration] JOHN TINCROFT BACHELOR AND BENEDICT OR _WITHOUT INTENDING IT_ BY GEORGE E. SARGENT AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF A CITY ARAB," "THE STORY OF A POCKET BIBLE," ETC., ETC. LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 56 PATERNOSTER ROW, 65 ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD AND 164 PICCADILLY MORRISON AND GIBB, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. [Illustration] CONTENTS. CHAP. I. AT LIBERTY HALL II. THE LOVERS' WALK III. THE PICNIC IV. IN THE GROTTO V. THE MAELSTROM VI. JOHN TINCROFT'S RESOLUTION VII. TWO FRIENDS—TWO LETTERS VIII. WHO'S WHO? IX. A RIFT IN THE CLOUD X. IN THE FILBERT ALLEY XI. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT XII. THE LION'S MOUTH XIII. MR. RUBRIC'S LETTER XIV. JOHN TINCROFT'S BOLD STROKE XV. FIREWORKS XVI. JOHN TINCROFT STILL UNDER A CLOUD XVII. HELEN XVIII. AN ADVENTURE XIX. WHAT HAPPENED AT LOW BEECH FARM XX. HOW TOM GRIGSON SPED IN HIS WOOING XXI. JOHN TINCROFT AT HOME; AND THE SKELETON THERE XXII. A LETTER FROM AUSTRALIA XXIII. A MONTH OF WONDERS XXIV. "COALS OF FIRE" XXV. HIGH AND LOW BEECH XXVI. SARAH'S CONFESSION XXVII. ELIZABETH'S GRIEVANCES XXVIII. THE LAST OF THE HOLLY ARBOUR XXIX. "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS" XXX. A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION XXXI. YOUNG TOM GRIGSON XXXII. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN XXXIII. MORE PANICS THAN ONE [Illustration] JOHN TINCROFT. CHAPTER I. AT LIBERTY HALL. SO many years ago that those who are old now were young then, and so few years ago that deeds then transacted are fresh in the memory of many who are living now, John Tincroft, an undergraduate of Oxford, was invited to spend the long vacation with a college friend. And the invitation came very opportunely, John thought. For one reason, he had no home of his own. His parents had been long dead, and a distant relative—a London merchant—who had charge of his orphanhood, was not particularly, certainly not passionately, fond of him. This gentleman took care to explain, however, to all whom it might concern, that he had always done his duty towards the lad. But, as regards this duty, whatever else it might include, it possibly had not occurred to Mr. Rackstraw that the providing a happy home should have formed a component part of it.