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"My blessed child!" he cried, in great distress and perturbation, "What

have I done? I--I----"

"Call me 'small' all you like!" she answered "I don't care It isn't

that You mustn't think me such an imbecile" She dropped her hands from

her face and shook the tears froh He saw

that her hands were clenched tightly and her lip trembled "I will not

cry!" she said in a low voice

"Soht--personalities are

hideous----"

"Don't! It wasn't that"

"I ought to be shot----"

"Ah, please don't say that," she said, shuddering; "please don't, not even

as a joke--after last night"

"But I ought to be for hurting you, indeed----"

She laughed sadly, again "It wasn't that I don't care what you callsuch a baby? I didn'tI said I haven't acted so badly since I was a child"

"It's et into

that crush at the circus--" he was going on, remorsefully

"That!" she interrupted "I don't think I would havehope that she meant the tent-pole; she looked as if she

meant that, but he dared not let himself believe it

"No," he continued; "I have been sowith you that