Published, February, 1909
Second Printing, March, 1909
Third Printing, May, 1909
Fourth Printing, July, 1909
Fifth Printing, August, 1909
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE | |
| I. | The Old Woman of Hill Street | [ 1] |
| II. | The Idea Which Came to Her | [ 9] |
| III. | Lord Cheriton Looks In | [ 22] |
| IV. | Arrival of the First Cause of All Romance | [ 38] |
| V. | The Instinct of Mr. Marchbanks Betrays Him | [ 48] |
| VI. | Unwarrantable Behavior of Tobias | [ 66] |
| VII. | A Throwback | [ 80] |
| VIII. | “Caroline Crewkerne’s Gainsborough” | [ 98] |
| IX. | In Which Cheriton Drops His Umbrella | [ 108] |
| X. | Jim Lascelles Makes His Appearance | [ 119] |
| XI. | Miss Perry is the Soul of Discretion | [ 140] |
| XII. | Jim Lascelles Takes a Decisive Step | [ 151] |
| XIII. | High Revel is Held in Hill Street | [ 161] |
| XIV. | Ungentlemanlike Behavior of Jim Lascelles | [ 171] |
| XV. | Diplomacy is Called For | [ 193] |
| XVI. | Hyde Park | [ 200] |
| XVII. | Development of the Female Us | [ 213] |
| XVIII. | Fashion Comes to the Acacias | [ 226] |
| XIX. | A Social Triumph | [ 243] |
| XX. | Miss Perry Has Her Palm Crossed with Silver | [ 256] |
| XXI. | High Diplomacy | [ 267] |
| XXII. | A Conversation at Ward’s | [ 281] |
| XXIII. | Muffin Makes Her Appearance at Pen-y-Gros Castle | [ 292] |
| XXIV. | Episode of a French Novel and a Red Umbrella | [ 304] |
| XXV. | Paris on Mount Ida | [ 322] |
| XXVI. | Jim Lascelles Adds Heroism to His Other Fine Qualities | [ 334] |
| XXVII. | Revel is Held at Pen-y-Gros Castle | [ 348] |
| XXVIII. | A Thunderbolt | [ 365] |
| XXIX. | Jim Lascelles Writes His Name in the Visitors’ Book | [ 375] |
| XXX. | Good-by | [ 383] |
| XXXI. | Disintegration | [ 392] |
| XXXII. | Barne Moor | [ 402] |
| XXXIII. | Everything for the Best in the Best of All Possible Worlds | [ 410] |
ARAMINTA
CHAPTER I
THE OLD WOMAN OF HILL STREET
AN old lady who lived in Hill Street was making arrangements to enter upon her seventy-fourth year.
It was a quarter to nine in the morning by the ormolu clock on the chimney-piece; and the old lady, somewhat shriveled, very wide-awake, and in the absence of her toupee from the position it was accustomed to grace—at present it was in the center of the dressing-table—looking remarkably like a macaw, was sitting up in bed. Cushions supported her venerable form, and an Indian shawl, the gift of her Sovereign, covered her aged shoulders.
There were people who did not hesitate to describe her as a very worldly-minded, not to say very wicked, old lady. The former of these epithets there is none to dispute; in regard to the latter, let our silence honor the truth. It is far from our intention to asperse the character of one who has always passed as a Christian; nor do we ascribe to human frailty the sinister significance that some people do. But as far as this old lady is concerned it is a point upon which we have no bigotry.
If sheer worldliness of mind is akin to wickedness, the old woman who lived in Hill Street must have come perilously near to that state. Her views upon all matters relating to this world were extremely robust, and years and experience had confirmed her in them. In regard to the next world she seldom expressed an opinion. In this she was doubtless wise. Sitting very upright in her bed, with those glittering eyes and hawklike features the unmistakable mistress of all they surveyed, she was enough to strike the boldest heart with awe. Not that temerity was the long suit of Miss Burden, a gentlewoman of a certain age whose sole mission in life it was to do her good-will and pleasure in return for board and residence, and forty pounds per annum paid quarterly.