CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE IDEA--ADVICE--TITLE--PLAN--ON PAPER--SUGGESTION--COST--BOODELS--OLD FRIENDS--JENKYNS SOAMES--DESIGNS--STAIRCASES--BAYS--OBJECTIONS--ORDER OF ARCHITECTURE--STABLES--PRICE--GIVEN UP--CAZELL'S IDEA 1 CHAPTER II. NOTIONS--GUIDE WANTED--BLACKMEER--CHILVERN--HIS ELEMENT--VIEWS--OBSERVATIONS--DISCUSSIONS--FISHING--TROUT--SHROPSHIRE--THE LAKE--THE SOLITARY CASTLE--HERMITS--GAMES--DIFFERENCES--AT THE HOUSE 13 CHAPTER III. WITHIN--THE HOUSEKEEPER--WINDOWS--INFORMATION--THE ORIEL--VIEW--FLOOR--MILBURD'S INQUIRY--TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT--MATERIAL--AN EXAMPLE--CRONE--POOR--MEDITATIONS--THE FRESCO--TAPESTRY--ARMOUR--MICE--RATS--THE GHOST 19 CHAPTER IV. ALONE--THE SECRET DOOR--UNSOCIABILITY--THE PICTURE--GRIM THOUGHTS--ONE CHEERFUL IDEA--MELON--HIDING--CRUEL JOKES--SPIRAL--ANGLES--ASSASSINS--WHITE LADY--A COMFORT--NERVES--THE DOOR--A GROWL--SNIFFS--A FOLLOWER--REASONING--SAD THOUGHTS--OUT AT LAST 24 CHAPTER V. ON THE ROOF--DOWN AGAIN--FURTHER INSPECTION--VARIETY--ELIZABETHAN--NORMAN--COLOUR--RAYS--FILTERED--CUI BONO?--SUGGESTION--PLAY IN STORE--THE STABLES--PREVIOUS TENANTS--GOOD INTENTIONS--NAME 31 CHAPTER VI. CHOOSING A PARTY. ROOMS--DECISION--ODD MEN--RETURN--ARRANGEMENTS--THEORIES--OBJECTIONS--PROPOSITIONS--ELECTIONS--THE LADIES--WHO'S HOST?--GUESTS--HOSTESS--MORE PROPOSALS--GRANDMOTHERS--AUNTS--HALF-SISTERS--SISTERHOOD PROPOSED--GRAND IDEA--CHAPERONS--TERMS--IDEAL--A PROFESSION--A DEFECT--OR ADVANTAGE--ADDITIONAL ATTRACTIONS--OLD MAN--DULNESS--THEATRICAL--PLANS--THE PRESIDENT--EXPLANATION--IDEA 36 CHAPTER VII. THE NEW ORDER. A BROTHERHOOD--SIMPLICITY--A DIFFICULTY MET--ILLUSTRATIONS--PROCEEDINGS--INTERVIEW--QUESTION--ANSWER--MODELS--PETITS FRERES--TERMS--RULES AND REGULATIONS--THE SCHEME DISMISSED--THE LIST SETTLED 44 CHAPTER VIII. A MORNING DISCUSSION. ON DEAFNESS--ESCAPES--BUTTONHOLED--A DISCUSSION--MORNING LOST--RAGE--DESPAIR 53 CHAPTER IX. A WET DAY. RAIN--THE MEDFORDS--CONVERSATION--A PROPOSAL--ACCEPTED--THE TRICK--THE LECTURE 60 CHAPTER X. OUT OF AN ALBUM--ON LOSS OF PATIENCE--MRS. FRIMMELY'S SUGGESTION--A DAY-DANCE 71 CHAPTER XI. A NIGHT SURPRISE 78 CHAPTER XII. OUR LIBRARY--BUSTS--DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS--MELANCHOLY--GUESSES--SOAMES--MRS. BOODELS AGAIN--MILBURD--HIS JOKE--A NUISANCE 80 CHAPTER XIII. MUSIC--MEDFORD--MILBURD'S SONG--CONSEQUENCE--OPINIONS--NOTE--COMPLIMENTS--EPIGRAM--THE DAMP FIREWORK 84 CHAPTER XIV. OUR POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS 88 CHAPTER XV. MRS. BOODELS--BOODELS--HIS GRANDMOTHER'S OBSERVATION--HER FATE SEALED--THE COMEDY--HER DEPOSITION--NEW PROPOSAL--AWKWARD--MILBURD'S RELATION--INVITATION--THE DINNER HOUR--RECOMMENDATION--DECISION 91 CHAPTER XVI. FRESH ARRIVALS--DESCRIPTION--A HISTORY 95 CHAPTER XVII. SUNDAY--SUNDAY REASONS--A CHAMBER DIALOGUE 108 CHAPTER XVIII. MORE SUNDAY THOUGHTS--IN MY ROOM--A TELEGRAM--IMPOSSIBILITIES--INTERRUPTION 116 CHAPTER XIX. THE PROSAIC GENTLEMAN. A WALK WITH SIGNOR REGNIATI 120 CHAPTER XX. A SUNDAY CONVERSATION 123 CHAPTER XXI. COMMENCEMENT OF MY SAYINGS FOR SUNDAYS 130 CHAPTER XXII. THE PROGRAMME--THE FARCE 136 CHAPTER XXIII. AFTER THE PERFORMANCE, CONVERSATION COMMENCES 181 CHAPTER XXIV. CHILVERN'S BALLAD--THE MORAL 191 CHAPTER XXV. IN AND OUT--BEFORE THE FIRE--MEDITATIONS--SURPRISES--HAPPY THOUGHTS--AWAKENINGS--SLUMBERS--BELL-PULLS--BOOTS--VALET--DIFFICULTIES--MRS. REGNIATI--WHAT'S ON THE TAPIS?--MATCH-MAKING--CUPID 198 CHAPTER XXVI. AT DINNER--WEIGHT--WATCHING--JOKES--PROTEST--AWKWARD SITUATION--AN ANNOUNCEMENT--INQUIRY--ARRIVAL--PRACTICAL JOKES 206 CHAPTER XXVII. FIFTH WEEK--DIFFICULTIES--HINTS--BOODELS' SECRET--ARRIVAL OF JIMMY LAYDER--A CHANGE--PRACTICAL JOKES--PLAYING THE FOOL--DRESSING UP--MORE JOKES--CHEMICAL LECTURE--EXPERIMENTS--RESULTS--OPEN WINDOWS--COLDS--DEPARTURES--SMALL BY DEGREES--BEAUTIFULLY LESS--THE SHILLING AND THE TUMBLER--BOODELS' LAST--TWO'S COMPANY--CONCLUSION 209

HAPPY THOUGHT HALL.

---