Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed. [Illustration: HER LISSOM FIGURE SWAYED WITH EASY GRACE.] THE DOINGS OF DORIS BY AGNES GIBERNE Author of "Sun, Moon and Stars," "Life's Little Stage," "Stories of the Abbey Precincts," "This Wonder-World," etc., etc. "A MAID IN HER EARLY BLOOM." — J. Whyte-Melville. LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 4 Bouverie Street and 65 St. Paul's Churchyard E.C. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE OWNER OF CLOVER COTTAGE II. BAITING THE GROUND III. DORIS REBELS IV. THE MORRIS'S V. A SECRET AGREEMENT VI. DORIS LETS HERSELF GO VII. THE CYCLE RIDE VIII. MRS. BRUTT SUGGESTS IX. SUDDEN SILENCE X. A SURPRISE VISIT XI. THE PORTRAIT XII. A LITTLE PLOT XIII. HAVE I DONE WRONG? XIV. THE STRANGER XV. R. R. MAURICE XVI. THE CRY FROM THE CHÂLET XVII. A GREAT EFFORT XVIII. ON THE MOUNTAIN XIX. A ROTTEN PIECE OF ROCK XX. ONLY A GIRL! XXI. A SUPERB RESCUE XXII. TWO HEARTS DRAWING NEARER XXIII. ALMOST OVER XXIV. "BUT I'M AFRAID" XXV. THE SQUIRE'S ADVICE XXVI. NOT HER HUSBAND XXVII. THE EAVESDROPPER XXVIII. WHAT MRS. BRUTT HEARD XXIX. WHAT NEXT? XXX. THE SQUIRE IS MYSTERIOUS XXXI. THE SQUIRE'S DARK HOUR XXXII. "YOU DON'T KNOW DICK" XXXIII. "HOW WILL HE TAKE IT?" XXXIV. FOILED! XXXV. WOULD HAMILTON DO? XXXVI. A SURPRISE MEETING XXXVII. THE MISCHIEF-MAKER AGAIN XXXVIII. "WHO WAS MY FATHER?" XXXIX. "THAT WAS WELL DONE!" THE DOINGS OF DORIS CHAPTER I The Owner of Clover Cottage "A DELIGHTFUL man!" Mrs. Brutt declared. "Absolutely charming! Handsome—accomplished—clever—fascinating!" She hung impressively upon each adjective in turn. "Fortune has showered her gifts upon him. Has simply showered them." Mrs. Brutt viewed her present companion as the reverse of charming. But to one who hated solitude, anybody was better than nobody; and she had seized a chance to inveigle him indoors, much against his will. "Showered—gifts—" he repeated vaguely, his one thought being how to escape from durance vile. "Ah, your masculine mind is occupied with weightier matters!" —and she rippled into laughter. She had a habit, not agreeable to all hearers, of interlarding her speech with ripples. "I was speaking of the Squire. As I say—a most attractive character. So good of him to come and take tea with me in my humble cot! Overwhelmed as he must be with engagements! I assure you, I appreciate the compliment." Mr. Winton's grunt might or might not have spelt acquiescence. "And his niece—such an attractive woman! So distinguée! That word does just exactly describe her. Not that I have seen so much of her as of her uncle." She had met Mr. Stirling three times, and Miss Stirling once. "But enough to realise what a perfectly unusual character hers is."