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"Yes"

"To you"

"Yes"

"And to me"

"Yes, why"--a pause--"come to think on it, that is peculiar"

"Isn’t it just?"

"Is she in poor health?"

"My dear sister has joined a society" Lady Maccon pursed her lips and pretended coyness

This was lost on Mrs Tunstell, who said only, "Well, there you have it Constructive occupation and attention to good works can have just such a beneficial effect on peevish young ladies Either that or she has fallen in love"

Alexia could hardly find the words to explain in a manner that Ivy would coasped and clutched at her boso to say out loud!"

Lady Maccon realized that Ivy hly indecorous, not to say dangerous, territory "Well, of course"--Alexia cleared her throat ostentatiously--"do tell ht you to call this afternoon, my dear Ivy?"

"Oh, Alexia, I do have quite the surfeit of delightful news to relate I hardly knohere to start"

"The beginning, I find, is usually the best place"

"Oh, but, Alexia, that’s theat once"

Lady Maccon took a fir for Floote "Tea is obviously necessary"

"Oh,anticipated just such a request, carapes ial

Lady Maccon poured the tea while Ivy waited, fairly vibrating with her news but unwilling to begin recitation until her friend had finished handling the hot liquid

Alexia placed the teapot carefully back on the tray and handed Ivy her cup "Well?"

"Have you noticed anything singular about my appearance?" Ivy i a sip

Lady Maccon regarded her friend If a brown dress could be called glaring, Ivy’s could be so described It boasted an overdress and bustle of chocolate satin with a pure white skirt striped, like a circus tent, in the sa hat was, of course, ridiculous: almost conical in shape but covered hat looked to be the feathers of at least three pheasants ood deal of blue and yellow silk flowers However, none of these extremes of dress were unusual for Mrs Tunstell "Not as such"

Ivy blushed beet red, apparently iven Alexia’s failed powers of observation She lowered her voice "I aarnered no response fro it So Ivy soldiered bravely on "I a a familial increase"

"Why, Ivy, I didn’t know you expected any kind of inheritance"

"Oh, no" Ivy’s blush deepened "Not that kind of increase" She nodded significantly toward Alexia’s portly fornant!"

"Oh, Alexia, really, must you say it so loudly?"

"Felicitations, indeed How delightful"

Ivy moved the conversation hurriedly onward "And Tunny and I have decided to form our own dramatic association"

Lady Maccon paused to reinterpret this confession "Ivy, are you saying you intend to establish an acting troupe?"

Mrs Tunstell nodded, her curls bouncing "Tunny thinks it a good plan to start a new family of players as well as a new fa"

A fa left the olf pack, Tunstell , in his oay, to build a new pack for himself "Well," she said, "I do wish you all the best luck in the world However, Ivy--and I do not ather the ?"

Ivy blushed and lowered her eyes "I was dispatched to consult you on just such a subject I understand Woolsey is quite enthusiastic in its patronage of artistic endeavors Tunny implied you even had some capital invested in a circus!"

"Indeed, but, Ivy, for obvious reasons, those are in the interest of furthering the pack Claviger recruitment and so forth Tunstell has voluntarily severed any such connection"

Ivy nodded gluht you would say as much"

"Noait just a moment I’m not so feeble a friend as to abandon anyone, especially you, ht "Perhaps I could dip into my own coffers You may not be aware, but enerous with a weekly allowance We have never discussed my personal income, but he seems disinterested in my financial affairs I am convinced he shouldn’t object if I were to become a patron of the arts Why should Woolsey have all the fun?"

"Oh, Alexia, really? I couldn’t ask such a thing of you!" protested Ivy in a tone that suggested this had been her objective in calling all along

"No, no" Alexia was beco rather entranced with the proposal "I think it a capital idea I wonder if I ht ask a rather odd favor in return?"

Ivy looked aoal "Oh, please do"

Alexia grappled with how exactly to phrase this next question without exposing too much of her nature to her dear friend She had never told Ivy of her preternatural state, nor of her post as ative endeavors that resulted