Chapter I: Front Matter

SIX GIRLS

_A HOME STORY_

BY
FANNIE BELLE IRVING

ILLUSTRATED BY F. T. MERRILL

BOSTON
DANA ESTES AND COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

_Copyright, 1882_,
By Estes and Lauriat.

University Press:
JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. UNDER THE TREES 7

II. AROUND THE FIRE 18

III. A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF 38

IV. IN CONFIDENCE 51

V. ONE DAY 65

VI. A STRANGER 80

VII. MR. CONGREVE SURPRISES HIMSELF AND EVERYBODY
ELSE 97

VIII. ODDS AND ENDS 113

IX. WHAT OLIVE HEARD 128

X. THE LITTLE BLACK TRUNK 148

XI. WHERE IS ERNESTINE? 168

XII. THE STORY 188

XIII. A YEAR LATER 202

XIV. STUDY OR PLAY? 221

XV. CONGREVE HALL 240

XVI. UNDER THE SHADY GREEN-WOOD TREE 257

XVII. SEVERAL THINGS 284

XVIII. AT THE OPERA 306

XIX. COMING HOME 336

XX. A SAD STORY 355

XXI. MY LADY 368

XXII. TO REAR, TO LOVE, AND THEN TO LOSE 380

XXIII. WHEN GOD DREW NEAR, AMONG HIS OWN TO CHOOSE 406

XXIV. TWO SECRETS 420

XXV. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A
GOOD-NIGHT--FIVE YEARS LATER 437

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

FROM AUNT TREMAYNE AND RALPH _Frontispiece_

"O ERNESTINE, HOW LOVELY!" 17

KAT AND KIT 49

THE OLD GENTLEMAN LIFTED JEAN UP ON THE POST 92

"NOW LET'S SEE WHAT'S IN THIS WONDERFUL TRUNK" 167

"WHY, HOW DO YOU DO, MY DEAR CHILD?" 244

"WHAT IS THE MATTER? WHAT HAS HAPPENED?" 267

MR. CONGREVE WOULD COME INTO THE GALLERY 314

SIX GIRLS.