SSES" 188

XIII. A SOLDIER 205

XIV. TWO SOUL-SIDES 218

XV. A BIRTHDAY 236

XVI. YES OR NO 252

XVII. A LITTLE DINNER 270

XVIII. A MAIDEN'S VOW 289

XIX. A SLUM POST 303

XX. THE UNFORESEEN 323

XXI. GOD'S PUPPETS 338

XXII. THE END 356

Flint:

His Faults, His Friendships, and
His Fortunes

CHAPTER I

THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS

"Say not 'a small event.' Why 'small'?
Costs it more pain that this ye call
'A great event' should come to pass
Than that? Untwine me from the mass
Of deeds which make up life, one deed
Power should fall short in, or exceed."

_The following chapter is an Extract from the Journal
of Miss Susan Standish, dated Nepaug, July 1, 189-._

We are a house-party.

To be sure we find pinned to our cushions on Saturday nights a grayish
slip of paper, uncertain of size and ragged of edge, stating with
characteristic New England brevity and conciseness the amount of our
indebtedness to our hostess; but what of that? The guests in those
stately villas whose lights twinkle at us on clear evenings from the
point along the coast, have their scores to settle likewise, and
though the account is rendered less regularly, it is settled less
easily and for my part, I prefer our Nepaug plan.

We are congenial.

I don't know why we should be, except that no one expects it of us. We
have no tie, sacred or secular, to bind our hearts in Christian love.
We have in fact few points in common, save good birth, good breeding,
and the ability to pay our board-bills as they fall due; but
nevertheless we coalesce admirably.

We are Bohemian.

That is, our souls are above the standards of fashion, and our incomes
below them, and of such is the kingdom of Bohemia. A life near to
Nature's heart, at eight dollars a week, appeals to us all alike.

We are cross.

Yes, there is no denying it. Not one of us has esca