[Illustration: Grant Allen.] L I N N E T _=A     R O M A N C E=_ _ B y _ G R A N T A L L E N _Author of_ “UNDER SEALED ORDERS,” “MISS CAYLEY’S ADVENTURES,” ETC. _N e w Y o r k_ : : : N E W A M S T E R D A M B O O K C O M P A N Y : : : : _M C M_ COPYRIGHT, 1900 BY NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY NOTE This story was written in the midst of the scenery which it describes; but the author desires to acknowledge his obligations for many touches of local colour to Mr. Baillie-Grohman’s admirable work on “Tyrol and the Tyrolese.” The quatrain on p. 283 is quoted, with some slight modifications (to adapt it to its place in this novel), from a poem by Mr. William Watson. CONTENTS I. “TO INTRODUCE MR FLORIAN WOOD” II. A FRESH ACQUAINTANCE III. WITHIN SIGHT OF A HEROINE IV. ENTER LINNET V. THE WIRTH’S THEORY VI. THE ROBBLER VII. WAGER OF BATTLE VIII. THE HUMAN HEART IX. THE MAN OF THE WORLD X. HAIL, COLUMBIA! XI. PRIVATE INQUIRY XII. THE MADDING CROWD XIII. A FIRST NIGHT XIV. AND IF FOR EVER XV. A CRITICAL EVENING XVI. SCHLOSS TYROL XVII. CAUGHT OUT XVIII. TAKEN BY SURPRISE XIX. SPIRITUAL WEAPONS XX. FLORIAN ON MATRIMONY XXI. FORTUNE’S WHEEL XXII. A WOMAN’S STRATAGEM XXIII. A PROPHET INDEED! XXIV. THE ART OF PROPHESYING XXV. A DRAMATIC VENTURE XXVI. A WOMAN’S HEART XXVII. AULD LAND SYNE XXVIII. SIGNORA CASALMONTE XXIX. FROM LINNET’S STANDPOINT XXX. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR XXXI. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK XXXII. WEDDED FELICITY XXXIII. PLAYING WITH FIRE XXXIV. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE XXXV. GOLDEN HOPES XXXVI. AN ECCLESIASTICAL QUESTION XXXVII. BEGINNINGS OF EVIL XXXVIII. HUSBAND OR LOVER? XXXIX. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE XL. OPEN WAR XLI. GOD’S LAW—OR MAN’S? XLII. PRUDENCE XLIII. LINNET’S RIVAL XLIV. AND WILL’S XLV. BY AUTHORITY