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"You, Jessamy? You were the one I trusted aron the satisfaction of seeing me break down But it is so hard to stand here withathim with its venom

A tap rattles the closed door

"Enter," says Lord Gargaron

Mother comes into the room, and Polodos closes the door behind her to seal us in

Even in her shapeless nancy before her, she glides like the racefully under sail

"My lord," she says, and I am not sure which man she addresses

For an instant I think neither Father nor Lord Gargaron is sure either

Part of what ret nothing Even under Gargaron’s censorious eye she does not wilt or fade

"What is your wish,Father directly

"Has Jessa the Fives without my permission?"

"She didn’t know!" I cry, for above all things I do not wish Mother to take the blaentle reproof that she could as well have slapped me "Of course I knew, Jessaoes on in this household?"

"You knew, Kiya?" Father raises a hand as if to strike in sheer, frustrated rage, glances at Lord Gargaron, and lowers the hand "You let it go on despite knowing I could never allow it?"