Chapter I: Front Matter

THE PRINCIPAL GIRL

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

_MRS. FITZ_
_ARAMINTA_
_FORTUNE_
_WILLIAM JORDAN, JUNIOR_
_HENRY NORTHCOTE_
_BROKE OF COVENDEN_
_MISTRESS DOROTHY MARVIN_
_etc., etc._

THE

PRINCIPAL GIRL

BY

J. C. SNAITH

NEW YORK
MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY
1912

Copyright, 1912, by
MOFFAT, YARD AND COMPANY
NEW YORK

_All Rights Reserved_

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I A GREAT PROCONSUL; AND OTHER PHENOMENA 1
II TOUCHES UPON A MATTER OF GRAVE
PUBLIC IMPORTANCE 7
III IS DOMESTIC IN THE MAIN, BUT WE
HOPE NOT UNWORTHY OF A GREAT
CONSTITUTIONAL STATESMAN 12
IV IN WHICH THE GENTLE READER HAS
THE HONOR OF AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE SEVENTH UNMARRIED DAUGHTER
OF NOT QUITE A HUNDRED EARLS 18
V IN WHICH THE GENTLE READER IS
TAKEN TO THE PANTOMIME IN THE
COMPANY OF MARGE AND TIMOTHY
AND ALICE CLARA AND DICK AND THE
BABE AND HELEN AND LUCY NANNA,
AND WE HOPE YOU’LL ENJOY IT AS
MUCH AS THEY DID 27
VI IN WHICH WE DINE OUT IN GROSVENOR
SQUARE 47
VII IN WHICH WE DRINK TEA AGAIN AT THE
CARLTON 62
VIII IN WHICH WE MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE
OF THE GODDAUGHTER OF EDWARD
BEAN 77
IX A LITTLE LUNCH AT DIEUDONNÉ’S 83
X AFFAIRS OF STATE 100
XI LICENTIOUS BEHAVIOR OF THE GREEN
CHARTREUSE 108
XII THE PROCONSULAR TOUCH 115
XIII JANE’S AFTERNOON OUT 121
XIV IN WHICH MARY QUALIFIES FOR THE
RÔLE OF THE BAD GIRL OF THE FAMILY 132
XV IN WHICH WE SIT AT THE FEET OF
GAMALIEL 152
XVI IN WHICH THE MOUNTAIN COMES TO
MAHOMET 157
XVII IN WHICH WE ARE TAKEN TO VIEW A
LITTLE FLAT IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE 166
XVIII IN WHICH THE CONSEQUENCES ARE
DAMNED WITH NO UNCERTAINTY 174
XIX A GREAT OCCASION 184
XX LOVE’S YOUNG DREAM 191
XXI ADVENTURES RARE AND STRANGE 199
XXII IN WHICH PHILIP RENEWS HIS YOUTH 210
XXIII IN WHICH GRANDMAMMA RENEWS HERS 226
XXIV IS OF A POLITICAL NATURE 239
XXV IS VICTORIAN IN THE BEST SENSE 259
XXVI A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS 268
XXVII ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR FREE TRADE 290
XXVIII THE END OF THE TALE 300

THE PRINCIPAL GIRL