MR. WITT'S WIDOW [Illustration: "Neaera was no longer in a condition to decide anything. Tears were her ready refuge in time of trouble, and she was picturesquely weeping." (Page 203.) _Mr. Witt's Widow_] [_Frontispiece_] MR. WITT'S WIDOW. _A FRIVOLOUS TALE._ BY ANTHONY HOPE, AUTHOR OF "THE PRISONER OF ZENDA," "RUPERT OF HENTZAU," "PHROSO," ETC., ETC. "Habent sua fata--cothurni." WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED LONDON, MELBOURNE AND TORONTO 1912. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. HOW GEORGE NESTON JUMPED 1 II. WHY GEORGE NESTON JUMPED 15 III. "WHAT ARE QUARTER SESSIONS?" 26 IV. A SERPENT IN EDEN 38 V. THE FIRST PARAGRAPH--AND OTHERS 52 VI. A SUCCESSFUL ORDEAL 65 VII. AN IMPOSSIBLE BARGAIN 82 VIII. THE FRACAS AT MRS. POCKLINGTON'S 95 IX. GERALD NESTON SATISFIES HIMSELF 109 X. REMINISCENCES OF A NOBLEMAN 122 XI. PRESENTING AN HONEST WOMAN 136 XII. NOT BEFORE THOSE GIRLS! 150 XIII. CONTAINING MORE THAN ONE ULTIMATIUM 162 XIV. NEAERA'S LAST CARD 172 XV. A LETTER FOR MR. GERALD 183 XVI. THERE IS AN EXPLOSION 197 XVII. LAURA DIFFERS 208 XVIII. GEORGE NEARLY GOES TO BRIGHTON 219 XIX. SOME ONE TO SPEAK TO 227 XX. FATE'S INSTRUMENTS 237 MR. WITT'S WIDOW. CHAPTER I. HOW GEORGE NESTON JUMPED.