Chapter I: Front Matter

THE PRIMROSE PATH

A Chapter in the Annals of the Kingdom of Fife

BY MRS. OLIPHANT

AUTHOR OF

“THE CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD” “AGNES” “A SON OF THE SOIL” “CARITÀ”
“FOR LOVE AND LIFE” “MISS MARJORIBANKS” “INNOCENT” &c.

“A violet in the youth of primy nature,
Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,
The perfume and suppliance of a minute;
No more.”

--“the primrose path of dalliance!”
HAMLET, _Act I., Scene III._

NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
FRANKLIN SQUARE
1878

BY MRS. OLIPHANT.

_AGNES._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_A SON OF THE SOIL._ A Novel. 8vo, Cloth, $1 00; Paper, 50 cents.

_BROWNLOWS._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_CARITÀ._ Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_CHRONICLES OF CARLINGFORD._ A Novel. 8vo, Cloth, $1 10; Paper, 60 cents.

_FOR LOVE AND LIFE._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_INNOCENT._ A Tale of Modern Life. Illustrated. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_JOHN._ A Love Story. 8vo, Paper, 25 cents.

_KATIE STEWART._ A True Story. 8vo, Paper, 20 cents.

_LUCY CROFTON._ A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

_MADONNA MARY._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cts.

_MISS MARJORIBANKS._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_MRS. ARTHUR._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 40 cents.

_OMBRA._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_PHŒBE, JUNIOR._ A Last Chronicle of Carlingford. 8vo, Paper, 35 cents.

_SQUIRE ARDEN._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_THE ATHELINGS; or, The Three Gifts._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_THE CURATE IN CHARGE._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 20 cents.

_THE DAYS OF MY LIFE_; An Autobiography. A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

_THE HOUSE ON THE MOOR._ A Novel. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

_THE LAIRD OF NORLAW._ A Scottish Story. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

_THE LAST OF THE MORTIMERS._ A Story in Two Voices. 12mo, Cloth, $1 50.

_THE LIFE OF EDWARD IRVING_, Minister of the National Scotch Church, London. Illustrated by his Journals and Correspondence. 8vo, Cloth, $3 50.

_THE MINISTER’S WIFE._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_THE PERPETUAL CURATE._ A Novel. 8vo, Cloth, $1 00; Paper, 50 cents.

_THE PRIMROSE PATH._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_THE QUIET HEART._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 20 cts.

_THE STORY OF VALENTINE AND HIS BROTHER._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 50 cents.

_YOUNG MUSGRAVE._ A Novel. 8vo, Paper, 40 cts.

PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK.

☛ HARPER & BROTHERS _will send either of the above works by
mail, postage prepaid, to any part of the United States, on receipt of
the price_.

TO

THE VERY REVEREND THE PRINCIPAL:

THE RIGHT REVEREND

THE MODERATOR:

ONE OF THE CHIEF LIVING ILLUSTRATIONS OF FIFE:

FROM

THE HUMBLE CHRONICLER OF THE KINGDOM

Greeting!

JUNE, 1878.

THE PRIMROSE PATH.