THE PRINCIPAL GIRL BY THE SAME AUTHOR _MRS. FITZ_ _ARAMINTA_ _FORTUNE_ _WILLIAM JORDAN, JUNIOR_ _HENRY NORTHCOTE_ _BROKE OF COVENDEN_ _MISTRESS DOROTHY MARVIN_ _etc., etc._ THE PRINCIPAL GIRL BY J. C. SNAITH NEW YORK MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY 1912 Copyright, 1912, by MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY NEW YORK _All Rights Reserved_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I A GREAT PROCONSUL; AND OTHER PHENOMENA 1 II TOUCHES UPON A MATTER OF GRAVE PUBLIC IMPORTANCE 7 III IS DOMESTIC IN THE MAIN, BUT WE HOPE NOT UNWORTHY OF A GREAT CONSTITUTIONAL STATESMAN 12 IV IN WHICH THE GENTLE READER HAS THE HONOR OF AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SEVENTH UNMARRIED DAUGHTER OF NOT QUITE A HUNDRED EARLS 18 V IN WHICH THE GENTLE READER IS TAKEN TO THE PANTOMIME IN THE COMPANY OF MARGE AND TIMOTHY AND ALICE CLARA AND DICK AND THE BABE AND HELEN AND LUCY NANNA, AND WE HOPE YOU’LL ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS THEY DID 27 VI IN WHICH WE DINE OUT IN GROSVENOR SQUARE 47 VII IN WHICH WE DRINK TEA AGAIN AT THE CARLTON 62 VIII IN WHICH WE MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THE GODDAUGHTER OF EDWARD BEAN 77 IX A LITTLE LUNCH AT DIEUDONNÉ’S 83 X AFFAIRS OF STATE 100 XI LICENTIOUS BEHAVIOR OF THE GREEN CHARTREUSE 108 XII THE PROCONSULAR TOUCH 115 XIII JANE’S AFTERNOON OUT 121 XIV IN WHICH MARY QUALIFIES FOR THE RÔLE OF THE BAD GIRL OF THE FAMILY 132 XV IN WHICH WE SIT AT THE FEET OF GAMALIEL 152 XVI IN WHICH THE MOUNTAIN COMES TO MAHOMET 157 XVII IN WHICH WE ARE TAKEN TO VIEW A LITTLE FLAT IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE 166 XVIII IN WHICH THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DAMNED WITH NO UNCERTAINTY 174 XIX A GREAT OCCASION 184 XX LOVE’S YOUNG DREAM 191 XXI ADVENTURES RARE AND STRANGE 199 XXII IN WHICH PHILIP RENEWS HIS YOUTH 210 XXIII IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS 226 XXIV IS OF A POLITICAL NATURE 239 XXV IS VICTORIAN IN THE BEST SENSE 259 XXVI A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS 268 XXVII ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR FREE TRADE 290 XXVIII THE END OF THE TALE 300 THE PRINCIPAL GIRL CHAPTER I A GREAT PROCONSUL; AND OTHER PHENOMENA