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 class dinner to go to; and to-day I called on dear Victoria, and I have just been lunching with a lot of girls. Awfully stupid—I hate girls' affairs, anyway. They are all gossip and backbite, and I hate it so!"

Morton, in his thirst of her every look and movement, very nearly ran down a nurse and baby-carriage. She laughed indulgently and merrily. Life was very exciting and full just now; she almost forgave him for being engaged to her.

"What have you been doing all this while? You haven't accounted for your time yet, you know."

He touched up the off horse as he answered: "Class dinner last night, rather good fun; and this morning—well, just some business that wouldn't interest you; and then I took Victoria out to lunch at the Casino. After that I came for you."

Philippa divined at once that the "lie" was in circulation, and she took the bull by the horns.

"I suppose she took occasion to abuse Valdeck?" she said, tentatively. 184