I. —New Neighbors Frontispiece.

“`Who can have taken the Ferguses' house, sister?' said a
brisk little old lady, peeping through the window blinds.”

II. —Talking it Over 73

“Come now, Puss, out with it. Why that anxious brow?
What domestic catastrophe?”

III. —The Domestic Artist 131

“A spray of ivy that was stretching towards the window had
been drawn back and was forced to wreathe itself around
a picture.”

IV. —Wickedness, or Misery? 197

“Bolton laid his hand on her shoulder, and, looking down on
her, said: `Poor child, have you no mother?'”

V. —Confidences 287

“In due course followed an introduction to `my wife,' whose
photograph Mr. Selby wore dutifully in his coat-pocket.”

VI. —Going to the Bad 327

“The sweet-faced woman calls the attention of her husband.
He frowns, whips up the horse, and is gone... Bitterness
possesses Maggie's soul... Why not go to the bad?”

VII. —Skirmishing 341

“`I like your work,' he said, `better than you do mine.' `I
did n't say that I did n't like yours,' said Angie, coloring.”

VIII. —A Midnight Caucus 400

“`There, now he's off,' said Eva... then, leaning back,
she began taking out hair-pins and shaking down curls and
untying ribbons as a preface to a wholly free conversation.”