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Aphrodite h She lifted her chin and her eard hihten me”

But he did, thought Marietta Aphrodite was playing at being Joan of Arc, but Uncle Williahten her very much indeed How could he be such a bully!

Aphrodite rerandchild Her beautiful, haggard face softened with love when she looked down at hiroithin her for this woman who had lost her own three children and yet somehow survived By the tiave an iht up “Psht! Some men are all noise and bluster,” she waved a diset what they want I do not regard him”

“I know Mama Greentree has always told us that Uncle William has a temper, but until now I truly did not believe it,” Vivianna said, when she and Marietta were alone

“He was so angry”

“I suppose it was the slur on the family name, or what he perceives as a slur And what did he mean about ‘friends’ who keep him informed?”

Marietta shook her head “Al to say that it was almost as if he had met Aphrodite before His hatred was personal, didn’t you feel it? When he shouted at her, he leaned right over her, into her face, as if he knew her”

“As far as I know they have neverher club, can you? He is such a prig, such a stickler for all things proper”

“Perhaps that’s it, though Perhaps he has a secret penchant for Aphrodite’s and thinks she will tell us all about it, so in his oay he’s warning her off”

“You have a vivid ie yawn

Marietta was immediately contrite “You are tired! Go upstairs and rest And leave the worrying about Uncle William to me That is why I am here, isn’t it, to take all such trivial domestic concerns off your hands so that you can enjoy your son?”

Vivianna ser sister “I wish you would look upon your stay here as a holiday, Marietta You are in need of one, I think I have always regretted that I was not there when you ran off with that creature Gerard I could have stopped you”

“I don’t think so I was determined to ruin myself, and I did And do you know, Vivianna, after he abandoned me I realized I did not love him at all It was the idea of love that attracted me”

Vivianna sighed “But you’ve changed, sister Before Gerard you were a carefree, generous and fearless girl, and now I see a shadow in your eyes You are far more cautious, far less likely to open your heart to others You guard your feelings”

“I was hurt,” Marietta said a little stiffly “I do not want to be hurt again What is so strange in that?”