Produced by Al Haines. *MR. WYCHERLY’S WARDS* BY L. ALLEN HARKER AUTHOR OF "MISS ESPERANCE AND MR. WYCHERLY," "MASTER AND MAID," "A ROMANCE OF THE NURSERY," "CONCERNING PAUL AND FIAMETTA," ETC. NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1912 COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Published January, 1912 BOOKS BY L. ALLEN HARKER PUBLISHED BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Miss Esperance and Mr. Wycherly Mr. Wycherly’s Wards Master and Maid Concerning Paul and Fiammetta A Romance of the Nursery To MY DEAR FRIEND JEAN MARGARET CARNEGIE BROWN _Emerson says, "To have a friend you must be a friend."_ _That, dear, is why you have so many._ *CONTENTS* CHAPTER I. "The Flittin’" II. The House Opposite III. The Princess IV. The Beggar Maid V. Their Meeting VI. Mr. Wycherly Adds to His Responsibilities VII. Jane-Anne Swears Fealty VIII. Jane-Anne Assists Providence IX. The Quest X. Fortune’s Wheel XI. The Cult of Bruey XII. Found! XIII. A Far Cry XIV. An Experiment XV. The Philosophy of Beauty XVI. The Pursuit Continued XVII. The Philosophy of Effort XVIII. Gantry Bill XIX. The Starling Flies Away *MR. WYCHERLY’S WARDS* *CHAPTER I* *"THE FLITTIN’"* "When lo there came a rumour, A whispering to me Of the grey town, the fey town, The town where I would be." FRANCIS BRETT BRETT-SMITH. The village was thunderstruck. Nay, more; the village was disapproving, almost scandalised. It was astounded to the verge of incredulity when it heard that a man who had lived in its midst quietly and peaceably for five-and-twenty years was suddenly, and without any due warning whatsoever, going to remove to the south of England not only himself, but the entire household effects of a dwelling that had never belonged to him. It is true that the minister pointed out to certain of these adverse critics that by her will Miss Esperance had left both house and furniture to Mr. Wycherly in trust for her great-nephews; but people shook their heads: "Once the bit things were awa’ to Oxford wha’ kenned what he’d dae wi’ them?"