



Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Cathy Maxam, and the Online
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  MISSY

  _A Novel_


  BY

  THE AUTHOR OF "RUTLEDGE"

  "THE SUTHERLANDS," "LOUIE'S LAST TERM AT ST. MARY'S," "FRANK
    WARRINGTON," "RICHARD VANDERMARCK," "ST. PHILIP'S,"
      "A PERFECT ADONIS," ETC., ETC., ETC.


  [Illustration]


  BOSTON AND NEW YORK
  HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY
  The Riverside Press, Cambridge




  Copyright, 1880,
  BY G. W. CARLETON & CO.




CONTENTS.


  CHAPTER                                  PAGE

       I. Yellowcoats                         9

      II. St. John                           26

     III. The First Sermon                   45

      IV. The People next Door               49

       V. Gabby and Jay                      66

      VI. A Passing Soul                     74

     VII. Misrule                            94

    VIII. A Tea-Table Truce                 109

      IX. The Sweets of Victory             118

       X. Per Aspera ad Astra               156

      XI. My Duty to my Neighbor            175

     XII. Fire and Sword                    190

    XIII. Mine Host                         211

     XIV. Yellowcoats Calls to Inquire      227

      XV. A Misogynist                      240

     XVI. Alphonsine                        262

    XVII. Enter Miss Varian                 293

   XVIII. At the Beach Gate                 301

     XIX. Five Candles                      305

      XX. The Honeyed Cousins               320

     XXI. Mrs. Hazard Smatter               332

    XXII. A Garden Party                    344

   XXIII. P. P. C.                          351

    XXIV. Shut and Barred                   363

     XXV. Amice, ascende superius           366

    XXVI. The Brook in the Way              379

   XXVII. Sanctuary                         383

  XXVIII. Vespers                           387

    XXIX. Surrender                         397




MISSY.




CHAPTER I.

YELLOWCOATS.


"I felt sure the train would be late," said Missy, sitting down on the
ottoman beside the fire. "It is so disagreeable to have to wait for what
you dread."

"But I think you have begun to be impatient too soon," said her mother,
glancing up. "That clock is several minutes fast, and Peters always
drives slower after dusk. Besides, you know he has the heavy carriage. I
think it would be foolish to begin to look for them for twenty minutes
yet."

"I believe you are right," said the daughter, with a sigh. "I wish it
were over."

"That is natural, but we can't hurry it. We shall have twenty minutes of
quiet. Come and sit down, I have hardly seen you to-day."

For the truth was, Missy had been very busy all day, getting ready for a
most unwelcome guest. The pale invalid mother, to whom the guest was as
unwelcome, had been obliged to lie on her sofa, without the solace of
occupation.

"I hope she will like it," said Missy, irrelevantly, getting up and
pushing her ottoman over to her mother's sofa, then, before sitting
down, going to the table and putting a leaf of geranium in a different
attitude, then stepping back and looking at it. An India bowl was filled
with scarlet geranium, and the light of a low lamp fell upon it and made
a beautiful patch of color.

"I might as well light the candles," she said, "and then I will sit down
quietly and wait." She took a lighter, and stooping to the fire, set it
ablaze, and went to some candles on the low book shelves and lighted
them. "I begrudge my pretty candles," she said, turning her head to look
at the effect.

"Why do you light them then?" said her mother, with a faint sigh. "Come
and sit down."

"In a moment," answered Missy. "I wonder if the hall is light enough."
She had looked at the hall lamps half a dozen times, but in fact she was
too restless to sit down. She pulled the bell impatiently, and a tidy
maid in spotless cap and apron came