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 and go abroad. You haven't sense enough to think of that for yourself, so I came to tell you. And another thing. If you want to save yourself, drop that scallawag Pole. Furthermore, if the worst happens, you needn't come to me—with a slander suit on your hands, your engagement broken off by Morton, and the open secret of your affection for a man whose popularity is entirely mushroom, and of whom nothing is known except a few letters of introduction care lessly given."

Mrs. Ford rose without relaxing the austere anger of her face, and sailed majestically from the room.

"Devil! devil! devil! devil!" said Philippa, under her breath, as the door closed upon her.

Philippa endured another half-hour of agonized contemplation of her life's chessboard. At the end of that time she rose, fagged and worn, and looked about her miserably. Her aunt was right. She must sacrifice Valdeck, marry Morton, and go abroad. Her hand sunk limply in her lap as she seated herself on the edge of her bed.

"Sacrifice Valdeck! Never see him again— 213