VAGABONDIA

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY - 1884

CONTENTS

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

VAGABONDIA.

CHAPTER I. ~ IN WHICH WE HOLD COUNSEL.

CHAPTER II ~ IN THE CAMPS OF THE PHILISTINES.

CHAPTER III. ~ IN WHICH THE TRAIN IS LAID.

CHAPTER IV. ~ A LILY OF THE FIELD.

CHAPTER V. ~ IN WHICH THE PHILISTINES BE UPON US.

CHAPTER VI. ~ "WANTED, A YOUNG PERSON."

CHAPTER VII. ~ IN WHICH A SPARK IS APPLIED.

CHAPTER VIII. ~ THE BEGINNING OF THE ENDING.

CHAPTER IX. ~ IN WHICH WE ARE UNORTHODOX.

CHAPTER X. ~ IN SLIPPERY PLACES.

CHAPTER XI. ~ IN WHICH COMES A WIND WHICH BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.

CHAPTER XII. ~ IN WHICH THERE IS AN EXPLOSION.

CHAPTER XIII ~ A DEAD LETTER.

CHAPTER XIV. ~ SEVEN LONG YEARS, BELOVED, SEVEN LONG YEARS.

CHAPTER XV. ~ IN WHICH WE TRY SWITZERLAND.

CHAPTER XVI. ~ IF YOU SHOULD DIE.

CHAPTER XVII. ~ DO YOU KNOW THAT SHE IS DYING?

CHAPTER XVIII. ~ GRIF!

CHAPTER XIX. ~ ROSE COLOR.

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

This my first novel was written several years ago, and published (without any revision by me) first in a ladies' magazine under the name of "Dorothea," and afterwards in book form as "Dolly." For reasons not necessary to state here, all control over the book had passed from my hands. It has been for some time out of print; but, having at last obtained control of the copyright, I have made such corrections as seemed advisable, given it the name I originally intended for it, and now issue it through my regular publishers.

FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT.

Washington, November, 1883.

VAGABONDIA.

CHAPTER I. ~ IN WHICH WE HOLD COUNSEL.

It was a nondescript sort of a room, taking it altogether. A big, sunny room, whose once handsome papering and corniceing had grown dingy, and whose rich carpeting had lost its color and pile in places, and yet asserted its superiority to its surroundings with an air of lost grandeur in every shabby medallion. There were pictures in abundance on the walls, and more than one of them were gems in their way, despite the evidence all bore to being the work of amateurs. The tables were carved elaborately, and the faded, brocaded chairs were of the order pouf, and as inviting as they were disreputable in appearance; there was manuscript music among the general litter, a guitar hung from the wall by a tarnished blue and silver ribbon, and a violin lay on the piano; and yet, notwithstanding the air of free-and-easy disorder, one could hardly help recognizing a sort of vagabond comfort and luxury in the Bohemian surroundings. It was so very evident that the owners must enjoy life in an easy, light-hearted, though perhaps light-headed fashion; and it was also so very evident that their light hearts and light heads rose above their knowledge of their light purses.

They were congregated together now, holding a grand family council around the centre-table, and Dolly was the principal feature, as usual; and, embarrassing as the subject of said council was, not one of them looked as if it was other than a most excellent joke that Dolly, having been invited into the camps of the Philistines, should find she had nothing to put on to grace the occasion. And as to Dolly,—well, that young person stood in the midst of them in her shabby, Frenchy little hat, slapping one pink palm with a shabby, shapely kid glove, her eyes alight, her comical dismay and amusement displaying itself even in the arch of her brows.

"And so the Philistine leader pounced upon me herself," she was saying. "You know the 'Ark,' Phil? Well, they were all in the Ark,—the Rev. Bilberry in front, and the boys and girls filling up the corners; so you may imagine the effect produced when they stopped, and Lady Augusta bent over the side to solemnly proclaim her intention of inviting me to partake of coffee and conversation on Friday night, with an air of severely wondering whether I would dare to say 'No!'"

"Why did n't you say it?" said Aimée. "You know it