Page:Watts Mumford--Whitewash.djvu/329

 Philippa's bow, 'is Miss Ford and her aunt. The old lady is a pusher and a scrouger, but the girl is really a very delightful young person, a refreshing change from the average. She is not over vain, she's good-hearted, she's well-read, and has excellent taste, also can talk intelligently—quite a rara avis.'

"'Really? She seems very popular; people are fairly falling over one another to speak with her.'

"'She is just home from Paris, you see; been away three months—it's quite a story; do you want to hear it?' "'Yes,—that's a nice frock.' "'Well, some little time ago, a foreigner came here, named Valdeck. He had managed somehow to obtain letters from the New Orleans Pointues—'

"'The Château-Lamion affair—oh, yes,—is that the Miss Ford? Heavens! yes, it was a nine days wonder even in London,—quite sensational. Dear me—'

"'Well, you know poor Philippa was taken in by the charitable side of her nature. Inci- 315