The Disappearance

PART I: The Hand of God Chapter 1 -- A gentleman of eminence is introduced and a curious event takes place by which he, and others, are baffled. . . . 9 Chapter 2 -- Familial discord, of a sort not rare in these times, distressed a lady of parts -- and is thrust aside by another matter. . . . 23 Chapter 3 -- A philosopher in a quandary -- a city in despair. . . . 39 Chapter 4 -- Wherein the end of the world as they knew it reveals to many gallant ladies that the world ended was one they did not know. . . . 64 Chapter 5 - A journey is made to an orderly bedlam . . . 83 PART II: Armageddon Chapter 6 - The onslaught . . . 105 Chapter 7 - In which certain ladies take liberties with the law . . . 115 Chapter 8 - Of siege and a quest . . . 132 PART III: The Unloved Chapter 9 - Which concerns various articles of ruthlessness . . . 149 Chapter 10 - In which the daughters of two revolutions meet on the Hudson River . . . 176 Chapter 11 - In which certain further changes are encountered . . . 203 Chapter 12 - A world of women --- O tempora! O Mores! . . . 227 Chapter 13 - An essay on the philosophy of sex, or the lack thereof, extraneous to the narrative and yet it's theme, which the impatient may skip and the reflective may enjoy . . . 245 Chapter 14 - A passion of the elements and an elemental passion . . . 268 Chapter 15 - In which the parallel limitations of man and science meet this side of infinity . . . 292 PART IV: Dream and Dimension Chapter 16 - In which practical men founder and a mystic tries an impractical approach to the problem . . . 321 Chapter 17 - A lady recovers but a multitude falls short . . . 340 Chapter 18 - The retreat of men of good will . . . 357 Chapter 19 - Homecoming and conclusion . . . 380