Now, a novel, in our days, is a three-story affair,—a complicated, complex, multiform composition, requiring no end of scenery and _dramatis personæ_, and plot and plan, together with trap-doors, pit-falls, wonderful escapes and thrilling dangers; and the scenes transport one all over the earth,—to England, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, and Kamtschatka. But this is a little commonplace history, all about one man and one woman, living straight along in one little prosaic town in New England. It is, moreover, a story with a moral; and for fear that you shouldn’t find out exactly what the moral is, we shall adopt the plan of the painter who wrote under his pictures, “This is a bear,” and “This is a turtle-dove.” We shall tell you in the proper time succinctly just what the moral is, and send you off edified as if you had been hearing a sermon. So please to call this little sketch a parable, and wait for the exposition thereof. CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. FALLING IN LOVE 1 II. WHAT SHE THINKS OF IT 19 III. THE SISTER 31 IV. PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE 39 V. WEDDING, AND WEDDING-TRIP 56 VI. HONEY-MOON, AND AFTER 63 VII. WILL SHE LIKE IT? 74 VIII. SPINDLEWOOD 86 IX. A CRISIS 92 X. CHANGES 104 XI. NEWPORT; OR, THE PARADISE OF NOTHING TO DO 112 XII. HOME À LA POMPADOUR 126 XIII. JOHN’S BIRTHDAY 137 XIV. A GREAT MORAL CONFLICT 152 XV. THE FOLLINGSBEES ARRIVE 161 XVI. MRS. JOHN SEYMOUR’S PARTY, AND WHAT CAME OF IT 181 XVII. AFTER THE BATTLE 197 XVIII. A BRICK TURNS UP 213 XIX. THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE 228 XX. THE VAN ASTRACHANS 243 XXI. MRS. FOLLINGSBEE’S PARTY, AND WHAT CAME OF IT 250 XXII. THE SPIDER-WEB BROKEN 268 XXIII. COMMON-SENSE ARGUMENTS 281 XXIV. SENTIMENT _v._ SENSIBILITY 284 XXV. WEDDING BELLS 291 XXVI. MOTHERHOOD 297 XXVII. CHECKMATE 304 XXVIII. AFTER THE STORM 321 XXIX. THE NEW LILLIE 326 PINK AND WHITE TYRANNY. CHAPTER I. _FALLING IN LOVE._ [Illustration: LILLIE.]