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Still--"

"Well, Miss Batchelor, the child is perfectly willing to come if I want

her But--er--er--a friend"--(Mrs Wilcox was determined to be discreet,

and leave no loophole for scandal)--"a friend has strongly advised

her to stay"

"Oh, no doubt she is perfectly right Sir Peter is in town again, I

believe?"

Miss Batchelor said it abruptly, as if she were trying to change the

subject And at the mention of Sir Peter Mrs Wilcox lost her head and

fluttered into the trap There are fallacies in the logic of facts

"No, no," she said, getting up to go "It was Captain Stanistreet I

ain Miss Batchelor smiled

This was proof positive--the last stone