MUCH ADO ABOUT PETER BY JEAN WEBSTER AUTHOR OF DADDY LONG-LEGS, DEAR ENEMY, ETC. [Illustration: Decoration] NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Made in the United States of America [Illustration: " ... PLUNGED INTO A RECKLESS FLIRTATION WITH MARY, THE CHAMBERMAID"] ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN COPYRIGHT, 1905, BY THE S. S. MCCLURE COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY THE CROWELL PUBLISHING COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY THE PHILLIPS PUBLISHING COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY HAMPTON'S BROADWAY MAGAZINE COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY PUBLISHED, MARCH, 1909 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Gervie Zame, Gervie Door 3 II. The Ruffled Frock 33 III. Their Innocent Diversions 57 IV. Dignity and the Elephant 81 V. The Rise of Vittorio 113 VI. Held for Ransom 139 VII. George Washington's Understudy 175 VIII. A Usurped Prerogative 209 IX. Mrs. Carter as Fate 243 X. A Parable for Husbands 281 Much Ado About Peter I GERVIE ZAME, GERVIE DOOR Peter and Billy, the two upper grooms at Willowbrook, were polishing the sides of the tall mail phaeton with chamois-skin rubbers and whistling, each a different tune, as they worked. So intent were they upon this musical controversy that they were not aware of Mrs. Carter's approach until her shadow darkened the carriage-house doorway. She gathered up her skirts in both hands and gingerly stepped inside. Peter had been swashing water about with a liberal hand, and the carriage-house floor was damp. "Where is Joe?" she inquired. "He's out in the runway, ma'am, jumpin' Blue Gipsy. Shall I call him, ma'am?" Billy answered, as the question appeared to be addressed to him. "No matter," said Mrs. Carter, "one of you will do as well." She advanced into the room, walking as nearly as possible on her heels. It was something of a feat; Mrs. Carter was not so light as she had been twenty-five years before. Peter followed her movements with a shade of speculative wonder in his eye; should she slip it would be an undignified exhibition. There was even a shade of hope beneath his respectful gaze. "Why do you use so much water, Peter? Is it necessary to get the floor so wet?" "It runs off, ma'am." "It is very unpleasant to walk in." Peter winked at Billy with his off eye, and stood at attention until she should have finished her examination of the newly washed phæton. "The cushions are dripping wet," she observed. "I washed 'em on purpose, ma'am. They was spattered thick with mud." "There is danger of spoiling the leather if you put on too much water."