E-text prepared by Al Haines THE SPLENDID FOLLY by MARGARET PEDLER Author of the Hermit of Far End, etc. New York Grosset & Dunlap Publishers 1921 TO MY HUSBAND W. G. Q. PEDLER CONTENTS CHAPTER I THE VERDICT II FELLOW-TRAVELLERS III AN ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH IV CRAILING RECTORY V THE SECOND MEETING VI THE AFTERMATH OF AN ADVENTURE VII DIANA SINGS VIII MRS. LAWRENCE'S HOSPITALITY IX A CONTEST OF WILLS X MISS LERMONTOF'S ADVICE XI THE YEAR'S FRUIT XII MAX ERRINGTON'S RETURN XIII THE FRIEND WHO STOOD BY XIV THE FLAME OF LOVE XV DIANA'S DECISION XVI BARONI'S OPINION OF MATRIMONY XVII "WHOM GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER" XVIII THE APPROACHING SHADOW XIX THE "FIRST NIGHT" PERFORMANCE XX THE SHADOW FALLS XXI THE OTHER WOMAN XXII THE PARTING OF THE WAYS XXIII PAIN XXIV THE VISION OF LOVE XXV BREAKING-POINT XXVI THE REAPING XXVII CARLO BARONI EXPLAINS XXVIII THE AWAKENING XXIX SACRIFICE THE HAVEN OF MEMORY Do you remember Our great love's pure unfolding, The troth you gave, And prayed for God's upholding, Long and long ago? Out of the past A dream--and then the waking-- Comes back to me, Of love and love's forsaking, Ere the summer waned. Ah! Let me dream That still a little kindness Dwelt in the smile That chid my foolish blindness, When you said good-bye. Let me remember, When I am very lonely, How once your love But crowned and blessed me only, Long and long ago! MARGARET PEDLER. NOTE:--Musical setting by Isador Epstein. Published by G. Ricordi & Co.; 14 East 43rd Street, New York. THE SPLENDID FOLLY CHAPTER I THE VERDICT The March wind swirled boisterously down Grellingham Place, catching up particles of grit and scraps of paper on his way and making them a torment to the passers-by, just as though the latter were not already amply occupied in trying to keep their hats on their heads. But the blustering fellow cared nothing at all about that as he drove rudely against them, slapping their faces and blinding their eyes with eddies of dust; on the contrary, after he had swept forwards like a tornado for a matter of fifty yards or so he paused, as if in search of some fresh devilment, and espied a girl beating her way up the street and carrying a roll of music rather loosely in the crook of her arm. In an instant he had snatched the roll away and sent the sheets spread-eagling up the street, looking like so many big white butterflies as they flapped and whirled deliriously hither and thither. The girl made an ineffectual grab at them and then dashed in pursuit, while a small greengrocer's boy, whose time was his master's (ergo, his own), joined in the chase with enthusiasm.