E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 25837-h.htm or 25837-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/3/25837/25837-h/25837-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/3/25837/25837-h.zip) THE MADNESS OF MAY by MEREDITH NICHOLSON With illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele [Illustration: "I didn't know it was _your_ moon," he said. [_Page_ 60]] Upon the morn they took their horses with the queen, and rode a-maying in woods and meadows, as it pleased them. --The Age of Chivalry. New York Charles Scribner's Sons 1917 Copyright, 1917, by Charles Scribner's Sons Published March, 1917 TO MRS. CHARLES THOMAS KOUNTZE ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE "I didn't know it was _your_ moon," he said. _Frontispiece_ "The young person left in haste, that's clear enough," remarked Hood. 30 "I make it a rule never to deny food to any applicant, no matter how unworthy. You may remain." 123 "Throw up your hands, boys; it's no use!" cried Hood in mock despair. 166 THE MADNESS OF MAY I Billy Deering let himself into his father's house near Radford Hills, Westchester County, and with a nod to Briggs, who came into the hall to take his hat and coat, began turning over the letters that lay on the table. "Mr. Hood has arrived, sir," the servant announced. "I put him in the south guest-room." Deering lifted his head with a jerk. "Hood--what Hood?" "Mr. Hood is all I know, sir. He said he was expected--you had asked him for the night. If there's a mistake----" Deering reached for his hat and coat, which Briggs still held. His face whitened, and the outstretched hand shook visibly. Briggs eyed him with grave concern, then took a step toward the stairway. "If you wish, sir----" "Never mind, Briggs," Deering snapped. "It's all right. I'd forgotten I had a guest coming; that's all." He opened a letter with assumed carelessness and held it before his eyes until the door closed upon Briggs. Then his jaws tightened. He struck his hands together and mounted the steps doggedly, as though prepared for a disagreeable encounter.