THE WORLD OF CHANCE A Novel BY W. D. HOWELLS AUTHOR OF “A HAZARD OF NEW FORTUNES” “THE QUALITY OF MERCY” ETC. [Illustration] NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS 1893 WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS’S NOVELS. _UNIFORM LIBRARY EDITION._ POST 8VO, CLOTH. THE WORLD OF CHANCE. $1 50. THE QUALITY OF MERCY. $1 50. AN IMPERATIVE DUTY. $1 00. THE SHADOW OF A DREAM. $1 00. A HAZARD OF NEW FORTUNES. 2 Vols., $2 00. ANNIE KILBURN. $1 50. APRIL HOPES. $1 50. PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK. Copyright, 1893, by WILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS. Electrotyped by S. J. PARKHILL & CO., Boston. THE WORLD OF CHANCE. I. From the club where the farewell dinner was given him, Ray went to the depot of the East & West Railroad with a friend of his own age, and they walked up and down the platform talking of their lives and their loves, as young men do, till they both at once found themselves suddenly very drowsy. They each pretended not to be so; his friend made a show of not meaning to leave him till the through express should come along at two o’clock and pick up the sleeping-car waiting for it on the side track; and Ray feigned that he had no desire to turn in, but would much rather keep walking and talking.