PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

The author did not live to revise the original draft of “Mr. Waddy’s Return,” and therefore, when his other novels were published, shortly after his death, this one was not included. On looking it over again, after the lapse of years, it seemed to his sister, Miss Elizabeth W. Winthrop, too good to let die; and it was placed in the hands of Mr. Stevenson to give it such revision and condensation as it may be presumed that the author, had he lived, would have given it himself.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. A Remarkable Episode, Hitherto Unrecorded, in the Voyage of the “Mayflower”[ 1]
II. The Waddys of Dullish Court, from Whitegift to Our Hero[ 6]
III. In Which Mr. Waddy Reaches Halifax and Meets with a Misadventure[ 13]
IV. A Gentle Lady of Fortune Decides to Face a Storm[ 24]
V. A Wreck and a Rescue[ 30]
VI. In Which Miss Sullivan Finds Many Reasons for Departure[ 40]
VII. A Peppery Invalid Who Dreams Dreams and Brings Bad News[ 50]
VIII. Mr. Waddy Muses upon Fate and Undertakes a Commission[ 58]
IX. The Nabob Re-enters Civilisation[ 65]
X. Our Hero Renews His Youth in the Warmth of an Old Friendship[ 73]
XI. In Which the Reader is Allowed to Worship at the Shrine[ 88]
XII. The Parable of a Humble Beast of Burden and of Lilies that Toil Not[ 97]
XIII. The Reader is Presented to Two Charming Girls, and so is Major Granby[ 107]
XIV. Protective Scandals and Other Diverting Humours of a Fashionable Watering-Place[ 126]
XV. Mr. Waddy Receives a Letter and Gets out His Pistols[ 148]
XVI. In Which Mr. Horace Belden Prospers Certain Plans[ 163]
XVII. Mr. Belden Contemplates Villainies New and Old[ 177]
XVIII. The Brave Prepare for a Race, the Fair for a Picnic[ 184]
XIX. Miss Center’s Birthday Party and What Occurred Thereat[ 196]
XX. Chin Chin and Peter Skerrett Seize the Forelock of Opportunity[ 220]
XXI. The Story of Diana and Endymion[ 233]
XXII. In Which Mr. Belden Reaches the End of His Rope[ 241]
XXIII. A Voyage of Unknown Length[ 258]
XXIV. Mr. Waddy Accomplishes His Return[ 266]

MR. WADDY’S RETURN

CHAPTER I
A REMARKABLE EPISODE, HITHERTO UNRECORDED,
IN THE VOYAGE OF THE “MAYFLOWER”