THE WHITE RIBAND
F. TENNYSON JESSE
BEGGARS ON HORSEBACK
SECRET BREAD
THE SWORD OF DEBORAH
THE HAPPY BRIDE
THE WHITE RIBAND
OR
A YOUNG FEMALE'S FOLLY
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
1921
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A YOUNG FEMALE,
I DEDICATE THIS TALE,
NEVERTHELESS
THIS BOOK IS HERS IN ALL SISTERLY LOVE
CONTENTS
I IN WHICH THE READER IS TAKEN BACK A FEW WEEKS IN POINT OF TIME, AND DOWN SEVERAL STEPS IN THE SOCIAL SCALE
II IN WHICH THE ONION-SELLER'S DAUGHTER FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELS AS A WOMAN
III IN WHICH SHE FOR THE FIRST TIME FEELS AS A GIRL
IV IN WHICH THE ONION-SELLER'S DAUGHTER FEELS HERSELF A GODDESS
V IN WHICH LOVEDAY ESSAYS THE WHITE GOWN
VI IN WHICH LOVEDAY ESSAYS TO OBTAIN THE WHITE SATIN RIBAND
VII IN WHICH LOVEDAY STILL ESSAYS TO OBTAIN THE WHITE SATIN RIBAND
VIII IN WHICH LOVEDAY CONTINUES HER QUEST AND ACHIEVES TENPENCE
IX IN WHICH LOVEDAY SETS ONE MAGPIE
X IN WHICH LOVEDAY DOES NOT ATTEND A FUNERAL
XI IN WHICH LOVEDAY ATTENDS THE FLORA
XII IN WHICH LOVEDAY DANCES
PROLOGUE
THE WHITE RIBAND
A YOUNG FEMALE'S FOLLY
Prologue
That was how they spoke of her story in the duchy's drawing-rooms;for what had Loveday been, at the most charitable count, but a youngfemale—less humanly speaking, even a young person? And what was thespring of her mad crimes but folly, mere weak, feminine folly? Evenan improper motive—one of those over-powering passions one readsabout rather surreptitiously in the delightful work