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" perfectly disgraceful," remarked Hilda, vigorously thrusting a dahlia into the épergne of flowers she was arranging. "Travers ought to be ashamed of himself to be carrying on as he is doing with that village hussy."

"What has the poor boy been doing now?" asked Maud, who stood at the other end of the dining-room table, "cutting out" some children's garments preparatory to the sewing-meeting at the Grotto.

"Doing!" replied her sister, flinging aside disdainfully a huge "flag" bloom that had found its way amongst the flowers. "I might as well set this coarse thing into my specimen vase, as he seek to bring this brazen creature into our family."

"Hilda, you should not speak so strongly," interposed her sister. "It is unworthy of you. Miss Elms is a quiet, unassuming girl—as modest as she is beautiful."