POPPEA OF THE POST-OFFICE BY MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT (BARBARA) AUTHOR OF "THE GARDEN OF A COMMUTER'S WIFE," "PEOPLE OF THE WHIRLPOOL," "THE OPEN WINDOW," ETC. WITH FRONTISPIECE BY THE KINNEYS New York THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1909 All rights reserved THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO MACMILLAN & CO., Limited Limited LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd. TORONTO Ltd. Copyright, 1909, By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. Copyright By Set up and electrotyped. Published July, 1909. Reprinted July, 1909. Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. To E. C. S. IN REMEMBRANCE Poppea glanced wistfully across the room and then slipped out through one of the long windows CONTENTS