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 most furious manner. His face frightened me. Aunt says she is sure he is insane. His wife has left him.”

“Can you wonder at it?”

“Why, of course I don’t know the circum- stances.”

“But are ready to blame the woman, Paul- ine?”

“No, indeed. I am not that kind of person. I am not one of those women who are ready to heap all the blame on their own sex. I thought you knew me better than that.”

“And so I think I do.”

“Of course you think me horrid.”

Though she turned sharply from him he caught a glimpse of the full, pouting mouth. After all she was only a girl who was striving hard to play the part of a woman.

“On the contrary. But of course it doesn’t matter much to you what I think?” |

“Why should it? Tastes differ, you know.”

He smiled. She was only a petulant child after all.

“There can be no difference of opinion where you are concerned.”

“You still know how to flatter.”

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