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"No, no!" protested Mrs Fyne "It is your foroverness who is

horrid and odious She is a vile woman I cannot tell you that she was

e and full of

evil thoughts You must try not to think of these abominations, my dear

child"

They were not fit for anyone to think of much, Mrs Fyne commented toThe girl was

like a creature struggling under a net

"But how can I forget? she called my father a cheat and a swindler! Do

tell me Mrs Fyne that it isn't true It can't be true How can it be

true?"

She sat up in bed with a sudden wild motion as if to jump out and flee

away from the sound of the words which had just passed her own lips Mrs

Fyne restrained her, soothed her, induced her at last to lay her head on

her pillow again, assuring her all the ti this woman had

had the cruelty to say deserved to be taken to heart The girl,

exhausted, cried quietly for a ti

evasive in Mrs Fyne's assurances After a while, without stirring, she

whispered brokenly: "That aoman told me that all the world would call papa these awful

names Is it possible? Is it possible?"

Mrs Fyne kept silent

"Do say sohter of de Barral insisted