E-text prepared by D Alexander, Josephine Paolucci, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) THE TIME OF ROSES BY MRS. L. T. MEADE AUTHOR OF "A Bunch of Cherries," "Daddy's Girl," "Bad Little Hannah," "A World of Girls," "A School Favorite," Etc. "It was the Time of Roses; We plucked them as we passed." CHICAGO M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY [Pg 3] [Pg 3] CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Home at Last 5 II. The Little Mummy's Arrangements 13 III. A Startling Meeting 19 IV. An Evil Genius 28 V. Maurice Trevor 33 VI. Mrs. Aylmer's Strategy 41 VII. The Chains Begin to Fret 48 VIII. Bertha's Quandary 56 IX. A Tempting Offer 63 X. The Little Mummy's Curiosity 69 XI. Florence's Good Angel 72 XII. Alone in London 80 XIII. A Weary Wait 88 XIV. A Blunt Question 92 XV. Edith Franks 99 XVI. On the Brink of an Abyss 106 XVII. Nearer and Nearer 116 XVIII. A Vestige of Hope 121 XIX. In the Balance 128 XX. Rose View 133 XXI. An Awkward Position 137 XXII. The Story Accepted 144 [Pg 4]XXIII. Bertha's Joy 151 XXIV. Trevor Asks Bertha's Advice 156 XXV. Trevor's Resolve 162 XXVI. At Aylmer's Court 169 XXVII. Bertha's Secret