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Rh Aunt Ruyvenaer beckoned to Dorine, who was very fidgety:

“I say, Dorine, does Mamma know about that hor-r-rid article?”

“No, Auntie,” said Dorine, forgetting to say good-evening to Constance. “I kept coming in and looking at the letter-box. . .”

“To-day?” asked Constance.

“Yes.”

“What do you mean, to-day? A week ago, you mean.”

“No, Mamma didn’t see that article last week, but I was afraid about to-day.”

“To-day?”

“Yes, to-day’s article.”

Constance caught Dorine by the arm:

“Is there something in it, to-day?”

“Yes,” Dorine whispered, coldly. “Didn’t you know?”

“Don’t you know, Constance?” asked Auntie Lot.

“No, I haven’t had it. . .”

“So you haven’t read it, Constance?”

“No.”

“Well, it’s just as well, child,” said Auntie, as though relieved. “Better not read it, eh? Hor-rrid article. Scandalous, child, about you. . . . Eh, soedah all those people. . . . And it’s so long ago, you and your husband; and he is your husband now! . . . Eh, what I say is, leave her alone.