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MY SECRET LIFE MY SECRET LIFE

thought Camille was in London as a dressmaker, mak- ing a lot of money, because she sent money home to her father. Camille oﬂered to take her, saying she would be sure to get on, if not in one way, then in another; that good-looking girls always did well in London. The girl was mad to come, and persuaded her parents to let her do so; believing that Camille got her living honestly; she was to be her servant until she could be put in the way of doing well.

“What are you going to tell her now? what are you going to do with her? what will she say when she ﬁnds out ?” I asked.

Camille did not know. The girl would ﬁnd out, and then she must excuse herself as well as she could, would say it was better, and jollier, and more money making than to make dresses. Besides, the girl could not help herself, and would have to make the best of it.

When was I to have her? I asked. As soon as I could get her; there she was, and I might try when and how I liked; help me more she could not, she could not in- sist on Louise letting me; but no doubt she would in time, no one else should have her.

I was not so sure of that. Camille was gay, and al- though I had for more than a year excluded most men from the house, yet she did have other men there, and I knew they would see the girl, might like her, might pay Camille; all the remarks of the retired major came strongly before me, and I thought I was going to be sold, and said so.

She replied that I was not; she would leave me with the girl when I liked; if the girl spoke to her she would advise her to let me, but would have nothing to do with inﬂuencing her beyond that; and when the event

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