IV CHASE CHANGES SIDES 222 V THE TRIUMVIRATE 229 VI EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE 233 VII ANOTHER WORD AS TO HETTY 243 VIII AGNES TAKES A HAND 247 IX A WORD FROM JOAN 256 X THE STREET CARNIVAL 262 XI FIRST BLOOD 267 XII POOR HETTY 275 XIII THE MERCY OF THE COURT 281 BOOK V DEFEAT I SUNNY SKIES 291 II A FRIENDLY RIVALRY 298 III POLITICS 308 IV A CLOUD ON THE MOON 315 V A LOST ALLY 325 VI KITE TAKES A HAND 334 VII A FEW WORDS TO THE WISE 343 VIII POOR HETTY AGAIN 353 BOOK VI VICTORY I THE WEAVER HOUSE AGAIN 367 II A BRIGHTER CHAPTER 375 III HETTY HAS HER DAY 384 IV WINT’S RALLY 393 V SEEING JOAN HOME 404 BOOK I THE GREAT ACCIDENT CHAPTER I HARDISTON There are two kinds of people: small-town folks, and others. The others are inclined to think of the people of the small towns as men and women of narrow horizons and narrow interests and a vast ignorance of such important things as cocktails. But, as a matter of fact, the people who dwell in the little mid-western cities and towns are your real cosmopolites. They know their own country, east, west, north and south, at firsthand. The reason for this is simple. When a city dweller goes to the country, he is careful to remain a city dweller; but when a small-town man goes to the city, he becomes a city man for as long as he is within the city’s gates. Your Bostonian knows Boston, has a smattering of New York, and a talking acquaintance with London. Your New Yorker knows New York--perhaps; and he desires to know nothing else. But the men and women of Hardiston, for example, know New York, and they know Boston--and they prefer Hardiston with a steadfast and unshakable preference.