Produced by Ernest Schaal, Nick Wall and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net THE CALL OF THE TOWN The Call of the Town A Tale of Literary Life By J. A. HAMMERTON AUTHOR OF "J. M. BARRIE AND HIS BOOKS," "LORD ROSEBERY," "TONY'S HIGHLAND TOUR," Etc. LONDON R. A. EVERETT & CO. 42 ESSEX STREET, STRAND, W.C. 1904 CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. "THE PROUD PARENT" 9 II. HENRY LEAVES HOME 22 III. THE REAL AND THE IDEAL 36 IV. MR. TREVOR SMITH, IF YOU PLEASE 53 V. IN WHICH HENRY DECIDES 61 VI. WHICH INTRODUCES AN EDITOR 70 VII. AMONG NEW FRIENDS 80 VIII. THE YOUNG JOURNALIST 91 IX. WHAT THE NECKTIE TOLD 100 X. VIOLET EYES 111 XI. ONE'S FOLLY, ANOTHER'S OPPORTUNITY 122 XII. "A JOLLY, DASHING SORT OF GIRL" 136 XIII. THE PHILANDERERS 147 XIV. FATE AND A FIDDLER 157 XV. "THE MYSTERIOUS MR. P." 164 XVI. DRIFTING 177 XVII. THE WAY OF A WOMAN 192 XVIII. IN LONDON TOWN 202 XIX. THE PEN AND THE PENCIL CLUB 214 XX. THREE LETTERS, AND SOME OTHERS 228 XXI. "THAT BOOK" 238 XXII. HOME AGAIN 244 XXIII. A TRAGIC ENDING 254 XXIV. ONE SUNDAY, AND AFTER 259 THE CALL OF THE TOWN CHAPTER I "THE PROUD PARENT" IF you happen to be riding a bicycle you arrive somewhat unexpectedly in the little Ardenshire village of Hampton Bagot, and are through it in a flash, before you quite realise its existence. But in the unlikely event of your having business or pleasure there, you approach the place more leisurely in the carrier's cart from the little station which absurdly bears the name of the village, though two miles distant.