MISSY _A Novel_ BY THE AUTHOR OF "RUTLEDGE" "THE SUTHERLANDS," "LOUIE'S LAST TERM AT ST. MARY'S," "FRANK WARRINGTON," "RICHARD VANDERMARCK," "ST. PHILIP'S," "A PERFECT ADONIS," ETC., ETC., ETC. [Illustration] BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge Copyright, 1880, BY G. W. CARLETON & CO. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. Yellowcoats 9 II. St. John 26 III. The First Sermon 45 IV. The People next Door 49 V. Gabby and Jay 66 VI. A Passing Soul 74 VII. Misrule 94 VIII. A Tea-Table Truce 109 IX. The Sweets of Victory 118 X. Per Aspera ad Astra 156 XI. My Duty to my Neighbor 175 XII. Fire and Sword 190 XIII. Mine Host 211 XIV. Yellowcoats Calls to Inquire 227 XV. A Misogynist 240 XVI. Alphonsine 262 XVII. Enter Miss Varian 293 XVIII. At the Beach Gate 301 XIX. Five Candles 305 XX. The Honeyed Cousins 320 XXI. Mrs. Hazard Smatter 332 XXII. A Garden Party 344 XXIII. P. P. C. 351 XXIV. Shut and Barred 363 XXV. Amice, ascende superius 366 XXVI. The Brook in the Way 379 XXVII. Sanctuary 383 XXVIII. Vespers 387 XXIX. Surrender 397 MISSY. CHAPTER I. YELLOWCOATS. "I felt sure the train would be late," said Missy, sitting down on the ottoman beside the fire. "It is so disagreeable to have to wait for what you dread." "But I think you have begun to be impatient too soon," said her mother, glancing up. "That clock is several minutes fast, and Peters always drives slower after dusk. Besides, you know he has the heavy carriage. I think it would be foolish to begin to look for them for twenty minutes yet." "I believe you are right," said the daughter, with a sigh. "I wish it were over." "That is natural, but we can't hurry it. We shall have twenty minutes of quiet. Come and sit down, I have hardly seen you to-day." For the truth was, Missy had been very busy all day, getting ready for a most unwelcome guest. The pale invalid mother, to whom the guest was as unwelcome, had been obliged to lie on her sofa, without the solace of occupation.