Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 45623-h.htm or 45623-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45623/45623-h/45623-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45623/45623-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through the Google Books Library Project. See http://www.google.com/books?id=zcgsAAAAMAAJ Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). Small capitals were replaced with ALL CAPITALS. THE OLD MAIDS' CLUB by I. ZANGWILL Author of "The Bachelor's Club," "The Big Bow Mystery," etc. With Numerous Illustrations by F. H. Townsend New York Tait, Sons & Company Union Square Copyright, 1892, By United States Book Company, [All rights reserved.] INTRODUCTION. THE READER MY BOOK. MY BOOK THE READER. [Illustration: THE OLD MAIDS' CLUB. By the Author of The Bachelors' Club] CONTENTS. CHAPTER. PAGE. I. THE ALGEBRA OF LOVE, PLUS OTHER THINGS 9 II. THE HONORARY TRIER 19 III. THE MAN IN THE IRONED MASK 27 IV. THE CLUB GETS ADVERTISED 43 V. THE PRINCESS OF PORTMAN SQUARE 50 VI. THE GRAMMAR OF LOVE 86 VII. THE IDYL OF TREPOLPEN 98 VIII. MORE ABOUT THE CHERUB 125 IX. OF WIVES AND THEIR MISTRESSES 133 X. THE GOOD YOUNG MEN WHO LIVED 147 XI. ADVENTURES IN SEARCH OF THE POLE 161 XII. THE ARITHMETIC AND PHYSIOLOGY OF LOVE 188 XIII. THE ENGLISH SHAKESPEARE 198 XIV. THE OLD YOUNG WOMAN AND THE NEW 224 XV. THE MYSTERIOUS ADVERTISER 244 XVI. THE CLUB BECOMES POPULAR 264 XVII. A MUSICAL BAR 277 XVIII. THE BEAUTIFUL GHOUL 291 XIX. LA FEMME INCOMPRISE 308 XX. THE INAUGURAL SOIREE 319 THE OLD MAIDS' CLUB. CHAPTER I. THE ALGEBRA OF LOVE, PLUS OTHER THINGS. [Illustration]