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 you I would have nothing to do with your miserable case if you saw fit to disobey me."

Philippa groaned and pressed her burning palms to her aching head. Ever since she had been released, and accompanied to her home by Commissioner Holes, Mr. Pendle, and her aunt, she had been in a state of frantic despair, which was not counterfeit.

"What I want to know is this," the drum-major went on, "are you going to obey me now? I shall give you this one more chance. I will take you in hand if you promise implicit obedience—implicit!—you understand!"

Philippa caught at the straw. "I will, I will—anything—everything, I promise!"

"So you have frequently said, but I have failed to note the absolute fulfilment of your vows. Now it's come to this: either you let me run this thing without question, or you are 'done for' socially. Of course, you can go to Europe with an elderly chaperone. Malta is a good place—with your good looks you ought to pick up some bored baronet with a bank account."

Philippa sat up on the lounge and pushed the 287