A Very Naughty Girl   By: L. T. Meade (1854-1914)

By L. T. MEADE

Author of "Palace Beautiful," "Sweet Girl Graduate," "Wild Kitty," "World of Girls," etc., etc.

A. L. BURT COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE I. Sylvia and Audrey 1 II. Arrival of Evelyn 10 III. The Cradle Life of Wild Eve 25 IV. "I Draw the Line at Uncle Ned" 36 V. Frank's Eyes 43 VI. The Hungry Girl 57 VII. Staying to Dinner 68 VIII. Evening Dress 78 IX. Breakfast in Bed 106 X. Jasper was to Go 117 XI. I Cannot Alter my Plans 126 XII. Hunger 143 XIII. Jasper to the Rescue 163 XIV. Change of Plans 169 XV. School 184 XVI. Sylvia's Drive 198 XVII. The Fall in the Snow 213 XVIII. A Red Gipsy Cloak 228 XIX. "Why Did you Do it?" 242 XX. "Not Good Nor Honourable" 253 XXI. The Torn Book 264 XXII. "Stick to your Colors, Evelyn" 276 XXIII. One Week of Grace 281 XXIV. "Who is E.W.?" 295 XXV. Uncle Edward 311 XXVI. Tangles 330 XXVII. The Strange Visitor in the Back Bedroom 343 XXVIII. The Room with the Light that Flickered 362 XXIX. What Could it Mean? 368 XXX. The Loaded Gun 377 XXXI. For Uncle Edward's Sake 391

A VERY NAUGHTY GIRL

CHAPTER I. SYLVIA AND AUDREY.

It was a day of great excitement, and Audrey Wynford stood by her schoolroom window and looked out. She was a tall girl of sixteen, with her hair hanging in a long, fair plait down her back. She stood with her hands folded behind her and an expectant expression on her face.

Up the avenue a stream of people were coming. Some came in cabs, some on bicycles; some walked. They all turned in the direction of the front entrance, and Audrey heard their voices rising and falling as they entered the house, walked down the hall, and disappeared into some region at the other end.

"It is all detestable," she muttered; "and just when Evelyn is coming, too. How strange she will think it! I wish father would drop this horrid custom. I do not approve of it at all."

Just then her governess, a bright looking girl about six years Audrey's senior, came into the room.

"Well," she cried, "and what are you doing here? I thought you were going to ride this afternoon."

"How can I?" said Audrey, shrugging her shoulders. "I shall be met at every turn."

"And why not?" said Miss Sinclair. "You are not ashamed of being seen."

"It is quite detestable," said Audrey.

She crossed the room, flung herself into a deep straw armchair in front of a blazing log fire, and took up a magazine.