Chapter I: Foreword

THERE are many girls who, on leaving School for Home-life, find the year or two following rather "difficult." They seem often not quite to know what to do with themselves, with their time, with their gifts; and they are apt to fall into some needless mistakes for want of a guiding hand. My wish, in writing this tale, has been to give such girls a little help. It may be that one here or there, in reading it, will find out how to avoid such mistakes from the struggles, the defeats, and the non-defeats of Magda Royston.

AGNES GIBERNE.
EASTBOURNE.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. GOOD-BYE TO SCHOOL

II. WHAT WAS THE USE?

III. ROBERT

IV. THE INEFFABLE PATRICIA

V. UNWELCOME NEWS

VI. SWISS ENCOUNTERS

VII. A MOUNTAIN HUT BY NIGHT

VIII. IN AN AVALANCHE

IX. FRIENDS IN PERIL

X. THE RESCUED MAN

XI. PATRICIA'S AFFAIRS

XII. AN OPPORTUNITY LOST

XIII. VIRGINIA VILLA

XIV. A REVERSION OF THOUGHT

XV. LIFE'S ONWARD MARCH

XVI. THE THICK OF THE FIGHT

XVII. ABOUT TRUE SERVICE

XVIII. TAKEN BY SURPRISE

XIX. IF HE SHOULD COME!

XX. THROUGH AN ORDEAL

XXI. AND AFTERWARDS

XXII. "COULDN'T BE TIED!"

XXIII. HERSELF OR HER FRIEND?

XXIV. SOMEBODY'S LOOSE ENDS

XXV. MAGDA'S OLD CHUM

XXVI. WHERETO THINGS TENDED

XXVII. WHAT PATRICIA WANTED

XXVIII. WOULD SHE GIVE IN?

XXIX. SO AWFULLY SUDDEN!

XXX. IF ONLY SHE HAD—!

XXXI. LOST LOOKS

XXXII. AFTER SEVEN MONTHS

XXXIII. THIS GLORIOUS WORLD!

XXXIV. ONCE MORE TO THE TEST

LIFE'S LITTLE STAGE