THE DAUGHTERS OF THE LITTLE GREY HOUSE BY MARION AMES TAGGART AUTHOR OF THE LITTLE GREY HOUSE [Illustration] NEW YORK THE McCLURE COMPANY MCMVII * * * * * _Copyright, 1907, by The McClure Company_ Published, October, 1907 * * * * * _To My Cousin Ella T. Johnson, with love_ * * * * * CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. ITS INMATES 3 II. ITS GUESTS 21 III. ITS OLD FRIENDS 39 IV. ITS DREADFUL NIGHT 57 V. ITS HERO 74 VI. ITS LEAN-TO ROOM 94 VII. ITS AMBITIONS 113 VIII. ITS BLENDED ROMANCE 130 IX. ITS TRIUMPH 148 X. ITS AFTERMATH 168 XI. ITS DEADLY INSULT 186 XII. ITS SEPARATE ELL 204 XIII. ITS GAINS AND LOSSES 225 XIV. ITS RENUNCIATIONS 244 XV. ITS FIRST WEDDING 264 XVI. ITS DENIAL AND ITS GIFT 277 XVII. ITS ADAMANTINE DAUGHTER 296 XVIII. ITS GLAD SURRENDER 315 * * * * * DAUGHTERS OF LITTLE GREY HOUSE * * * * * CHAPTER ONE ITS INMATES "How do you know when you're a young lady?" asked Roberta Grey. She was sitting before the ancient mahogany dressing-table in her--and Wythie's--room, unblushingly regarding herself in the mirror, while the fingers of both hands, supporting her brilliant face, experimented with changes in it by pushing up the delicate eyebrows into quite a celestial angle. Frances Silsby, from the rocking-chair by the window, and Wythie on the foot of the bed, laughed. "I know I'm young by the record in the Bible--and by the way I feel," said Frances. "And I know I'm a lady by the company I keep, since 'birds of a feather,' and so forth." Frances made a deep salaam almost to the floor, taking advantage of the forward tilt of the rocking-chair to deepen it. "That's the retort courteous, Francie. You will be an ornament to the diplomatic circle when you are Lady Ambassadress to the court of St. James'. But I should like to know how to be sure one's reluctant feet have crossed the meeting point of the brook and the river," insisted Rob.