LONDON LAVENDER

AN ENTERTAINMENT

BY

E. V. LUCAS

AUTHOR OF "OVER BEMERTON'S," "MR. INGLESIDE," ETC.

New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1912

All rights reserved

COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.

Set up and electrotyped. Published September, 1912.

Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

A CHOICE OF MOTTOES

"... across the field of vision ..."—Optician's Catalogue.

"Nothing doing."—Stock Exchange Bulletin.

"It is almost impossible to exclude truth altogether.'"—Observer's Corner.

"The mixture as before."—Dr. William Osler.

NOTE

Try as I might to prevent it, certain characters from Listener's Lure, Mr. Ingleside, and particularly Over Bemertons, would keep breaking into this book.

I have to thank Mr. Cecil Sharp for permission to reproduce the music on pages 26, 27, and 276. That on pages 143 and 144, also due to his courtesy, is now published for the first time.

E. V. L.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. In which a new home is found, and the status of anthropoid apes is carefully determined

II. In which the four gentlemen above us obtain their characters, and Primrose Terrace is rudely disturbed

III. In which a visit is paid to a red-haired lady, and certain members of London's foreign population are enumerated

IV. In which I am forbidden to be idle, and therefore find congenial employment

V. In which we find lovers of two kinds, and meet with a poignant invention

VI. In which we meet the first-floor-back, and find that the milk of human kindness still runs

VII. In which Mr. Dabney warms his house with a discussion, and I am glad to get home

VIII. In which an honest couple who never did anyone any harm are seen on the brink of the struggle with prosperity

IX. In which the top-floor-back turns out to be an acquaintance, and schemes are unfolded for the salvation of an effete race