A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Sylvia and Audrey 1
II. Arrival of Evelyn 10
III. The Cradle Life of Wild Eve 25
IV. “I Draw the Line at Uncle Ned” 36
V. Frank’s Eyes 43
VI. The Hungry Girl 57
VII. Staying to Dinner 68
VIII. Evening-Dress 78
IX. Breakfast in Bed 106
X. Jasper was to Go 117
XI. I Cannot Alter my Plans 126
XII. Hunger 143
XIII. Jasper to the Rescue 163
XIV. Change of Plans 169
XV. School 184
XVI. Sylvia’s Drive 198
XVII. The Fall in the Snow 213
XVIII. A Red Gipsy Cloak 228
XIX. “Why Did you Do it?” 242
XX. “Not Good Nor Honourable” 253
XXI. The Torn Book 264
XXII. “Stick to your Colors, Evelyn” 276
XXIII. One Week of Grace 281
XXIV. “Who is E.W.?” 295
XXV. Uncle Edward 311
XXVI. Tangles 330
XXVII. The Strange Visitor in the Back Bedroom 343
XXVIII. The Room with the Light that Flickered 362
XXIX. What Could it Mean? 368
XXX. The Loaded Gun 377
XXXI. For Uncle Edward’s Sake 391




A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL




CHAPTER I.—SYLVIA AND AUDREY.


It was a day of great excitement, and Audrey Wynford stood by her
schoolroom window and looked out. She was a tall girl of sixteen, with
her hair hanging in a long, fair plait down her back. She stood with her
hands folded behind her and an expectant expression on her face.

Up the avenue a stream of people were coming. Some came in cabs, some on
bicycles; some walked. They all turned in the direction of the front
entrance, and Audrey heard their voices rising and falling as they
entered the house, walked down the hall, and disappeared into some
region at the other end.

“It is all detestable,” she muttered; “and just when Evelyn is coming,
too. How strange she will think it! I wish father would drop this horrid
custom. I do not approve of it at all.”

Just then her governess, a bright-looking girl about six years Audrey’s
senior, came into the room.

“Well,” she cried, “and what are you doing here? I thought you were
going to ride this afternoon.”

“How can I?” said Audrey, shrugging her shoulders. “I shall be met at
every turn.”