Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Note.

In this text version of “Signing the Contract”:
words in italics are marked with _underscores_
words in small capitals are shown in UPPERCASE.

Variant spelling has been retained, as has inconsistent hyphenation. Simple typographical errors have been corrected.

The Table of Contents was added by the Transcriber.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE
I. A WANDERER 7
II. RESCUED 19
III. ONE FOR LIFE 28
IV. A STRANGE REVELATION 35
V. BETROTHED 45
VI. THE SEARCH 52
VII. A WICKED SUGGESTION 58
VIII. MRS. ALDEN AN ABETTOR 66
IX. WHAT ESPY SAID ABOUT IT 74
X. FLOY’S RESOLVE 77
XI. LOVE AND PRIDE 82
XII. “LOST! LOST! LOST!” 87
XIII. FLOY’S QUEST 92
XIV. A RIFT IN THE CLOUD 95
XV. ALONE 103
XVI. INITIATED 112
XVII. HETTY TO THE RESCUE 120
XVIII. A CRUEL BLOW 128
XIX. A GREAT SURPRISE 138
XX. A SUDDEN SUMMONS 146
XXI. GHOSTS OF THE PAST 157
XXII. REMORSE 169
XXIII. OLD FRIENDS AND NEW 181
XXIV. GILDED MISERY 192
XXV. STITCH, STITCH, STITCH 197
XXVI. THE MADAME AT HER SOLICITOR’S 207
XXVII. THE LONG-LOST DEED 214
XXVIII. MESSRS. TREDICK & SERVER 222
XXIX. A THORNY ROSE 230
XXX. PANSY 234
XXXI. A WONDROUS CHANGE 241
XXXII. ETHEL AT HOME 248
XXXIII. A LETTER, A STORY, AND A PROMISE 255
XXXIV. THE MADAME’S CONFESSION 259
XXXV. A FLITTING 272
XXXVI. REUNITED 283
XXXVII. LOVE’S POSY 296
XXXVIII. “FOUND! FOUND! FOUND!” 307
XXXIX. THE MADAME’S QUEST IS ENDED 319
XL. THE CUP OVERFLOWS 326
XLI. AFTER THE RAIN, SUNLIGHT; AFTER
THE STORM, A CALM. 331

SIGNING THE CONTRACT.

AND

WHAT IT COST.

BY

MARTHA FINLEY,

AUTHOR OF THE “ELSIE BOOKS,” “WANTED--A PEDIGREE,”
“MILDRED KEITH,” ETC., ETC.

“The web of our life is of a manifold yarn, good and ill together.”

SHAKESPEARE.

NEW YORK:

DODD, MEAD & COMPANY,

PUBLISHERS.

COPYRIGHT, 1879,
BY
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY.

SIGNING THE CONTRACT.