Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] LILIAN BY Arnold Bennett CASSELL AND COMPANY, LTD London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne _First published, 1922_ _Printed in Great Britain_ TO BERTIE SULLIVAN AND AMARYLLIS WITH AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE CONTENTS. _PART I_ I. The Girl Alone II. Early Years III. Advice to the Young Beauty IV. The Clubman V. The Devotee VI. The Telephone _PART II_ I. The Suicide II. The Malady III. Shut IV. The Vizier V. The Martyr VI. The Invitation VII. The Avowal VIII. Philosophy of the Grey-Haired _PART III_ I. In the Hotel II. The Big Yacht III. The Casino IV. Chemin de fer V. In the Hills VI. The Benefactress VII. The Doctor VIII. Marriage IX. The Widow X. The Wreath _PART IV_ I. The Return II. Miss Grig III. The Lieutenant IV. The New Employer V. Layette PART I LILIAN I The Girl Alone Lilian, in dark blue office frock with an embroidered red line round the neck and detachable black wristlets that preserved the ends of the sleeves from dust and friction, sat idle at her flat desk in what was called "the small room" at Felix Grig’s establishment in Clifford Street, off Bond Street. There were three desks, three typewriting machines and three green-shaded lamps. Only Lilian’s lamp was lighted, and she sat alone, with darkness above her chestnut hair and about her, and a circle of radiance below. She was twenty-three. Through the drawn blind of the window could just be discerned the backs of the letters of words painted on the glass: "Felix Grig. Typewriting Office. Open day and night." Seen from the street the legend stood out black and clear against the faintly glowing blind. It was 11 P.M.