THE SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN _By COMPTON MACKENZIE_ Author of "Carnival," "Sinister Street," etc. TORONTO McCLELLAND and STEWART, Limited PUBLISHERS _Copyright, 1923, by_ Martin Seckar _All Rights Reserved_ _Printed in the United States of America_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. The Infant 3 II. The Girl 61 III. The Maiden 117 IV. The Wife 165 V. The Mother 213 VI. The Widow 257 VII. The Grandmother 293 _Chapter One_ THE INFANT THE SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN _Chapter One: The Infant_ On a June morning in the year 1859 Sir Richard Flower of Barton Flowers in the county of Southampton decided that the weather was propitious for his annual progress on horseback round the confines of his demesne. The order was given to saddle his gray gelding; Lady Flower was informed that her husband would dine two hours later than usual, and upon her expressing alarm at the prospect of so long a fast for him, she was reassured by a farther announcement that he would fortify himself against the strain of waiting until six o'clock for his dinner with light refreshment at one of the outlying farms. Lady Flower sent back word to say how much she regretted not having known of Sir Richard's expedition earlier in order that she might have made an effort to overcome her headache and bid him farewell in person. To this the baronet replied with a solemn admonition to her ladyship's maid that her ladyship must on no account do anything to make her headache worse. The exchange of courtesies being thus complete, Sir Richard mounted his gray gelding and set out, pausing for a moment at the top of the drive to look back at the Hall and respond with his crop to a handkerchief that fluttered from an upper window. In the manner of shaking his crop Sir Richard succeeded in conveying a reproof for the indiscretion of rising from bed, affection for his beloved wife, and gratification at the devotion displayed for himself. Then he turned his horse's head to the left and cantered down a grassy avenue between ancient oak trees.