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Natalie blew a tiny cloud of cigaret smoke, and watched it for a moment

"You sound fearfully involved But never ; I don't knohat, but of course I a Marion here to-day, mother?"

"Well, if you want to know exactly, Iout of church, and

it occurred torather a nice luncheon, and

that it would be a pity not to ask some one to come in It was a nice

luncheon, wasn't it?"

"That's why you asked her? For food?"

"Brutally put, but correct"

"You have been asking her here a lot lately And yet the last time we

discussed her you said she was fast That she wanted to h if I fell for it"

"I hardly used those words, did I?"

"For heaven's sake, et down to facts Does your bringing her here ed your mind?"

Natalie considered She was afraid of too quick a surrender lest he grow

suspicious She decided to temporize, with the affectation of frankness

that had once deceived Clayton, and that still, she knew, affected

Graham

"I'll tell you exactly," she said, slowly "At first I thought it was