Transcriber's note: This was one of the most enjoyable e-texts that I have prepared but also one of the most difficult. Many of the characters use the working class slang and dialect of 100 years ago and the author sticks to this consistently throughout the book. At times there seems to be as many apostrophes as characters! The printers have spaced these out and I hope that I have joined them up acceptably for our purpose. Chapter X of the original book contained a diagram of a tattoo, and another diagram appeared in Chapter XX. Text has been added to substitute for these diagrams. TRUE TILDA By "Q" (A.T. QUILLER-COUCH) CONTENTS CHAPTER I AT THE SIGN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN. II HOW TRUE TILDA CAME TO DOLOROUS GARD III A KIDNAPPING IV IN WHICH CHILDE ARTHUR LOSES ONE MOTHER AND GAINS ANOTHER V TEMPORARY EMBARRASSMENTS OF A THESPIAN VI MR. MORTIMER'S ADVENTURE VII IN WHICH MR. HUCKS TAKES A HAND VIII FLIGHT IX FREEDOM X THE FOUR DIAMONDS. XI THE "STRATFORD-ON-AVON" XII PURSUED XIII ADVENTURE OF THE FURRED COLLAR XIV ADVENTURE OF THE PRIMROSE FETE XV ADVENTURE OF THE FAT LADY XVI ADVENTURES OF THE "FOUR ALLS" AND OF THE CELESTIAL CHEMIST XVII BY WESTON WEIR XVIII DOWN AVON XIX THE S.S. _EVAN EVANS_ XX INISTOW FARM XXI THE HUNTED STAG XXII THE VOYAGE XXIII THE ISLAND XXIV GLASSON IN CHASE XXV MISS SALLY BREAKS THE DOORS XXVI THE RESCUE EPILOGUE CHAPTER I AT THE SIGN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN "_That it may please Thee to preserve all that travel by land or by water . . . all sick persons, and young children._"--THE LITANY. "I love my love with a H'aitch, because he's 'andsome--" Tilda turned over on her right side--she could do so now without pain-- and lifting herself a little, eyed the occupant of the next bed. The other six beds in the ward were empty. "I 'ate 'im, because--look 'ere, I don't believe you're listenin'?"