To
MISS PRECISION
AND
“YOUR AFFECNUT LITTLE FRIEND”
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
WITH DEFERENCE
BY
ITS AUTHOR AND THEIRS
II. A Great Loss and a Queer Equivalent
V. The Story Of The Earthquake
VI. Mrs. Puddephatt and Fancy-Maria
VII. “Facilis Descensus Averni”
When I was a very little boy my mother died. I was too young to feelher loss long, though I missed her badly at first; but thecompensation was that it brought my father nearer to me. He was abarrister, a prodigal love of a man, dear bless him! And he felt hisbereavement so cruelly that for a time he seemed incapable of rallyingfrom the blow. But presently he plucked up heart, and went, for mysake, to his business again.
He was more liked than lucky, I believe. I had evidence enough, atleast of the former; for after my