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She ly, but did not object at this point So else troubled him He hadn’t been himself lately and she orried about it He was her twin and more often than not, they didn’t need many words They understood one another completely They had always been close and then randfather had taken on the job of raising the in nature and quite unassailable Mandy was very certain he orried about another matter

“So in that head of yours, Ned,” she said on a serious note “You have not been yourself lately and don’t try to foblook and added, “Because I ahly aware that matters between you and Celia have done a complete turnabout”

He shot her a sharp look and h his waves of uncovered yellow hair “Yes, you are right ‘Tis Celia Certes, Mandy, she has roaned on this last pronouncement

“Ah,” smiled his sister “The wiles of a woman” Mandy chuckled and added, “It can’t be all that bad, Neddy?” She had slowed her horse to a walk and looked across at hily

“It can’t But it is,” he said ht that she was an angel Then I saw she was casting lures elsewhere and I putand ca to settle doith my first…infatuation, so to speak”

“Well that is good, isn’t it?” She arched a look at hilad you have seen the situation for what it is I don’t mean to speak poorly about our cousin Celia, but I too have noticed that lately she see you, whereas last week she did not even know you were alive” Mandy laughed, “Bantling that you are, I didn’t think you were up to snuff about it”

Her brother cast her a withering look, “I don’t appreciate being called a bantling”

“Coize You evidently are not a bantling for you have seen for yourself what the situation is” He didn’t appear to be placated and she added, “Don’t be in a miff, Ned”

“I ain’t in a miff What I ah I’d let any skirt char she cares for me if she doesn’t And I have co flirt She doesn’t care for me at all”

“Agreed So what is the problem?”

“She seems to think I have led her on,” Ned said totally dejected “I would never do that Did I do that? I had no idea I was doing that”

“Ned, you did no such thing Granted you followed her about like a puppy dog at first, but it was obvious that she wanted someone else I wish I could have discovered who it was, for I saw her forever sending off notes to him with her maid No, if she has made a roundabout it is because he has not come up to scratch and she hts now on you, brother”

“Indeed, as , “it certainly see for o” He pulled a face at her

“Fragile ego? Ha! Where is it this fragile ego?” His sister laughed and told hier, “Next week you shall be in love again” As she then thought of Celia trying to ensnare her brother she said, “She is outrageous After all, she is five years older than you and while if both your hearts were engaged, that wouldn’tto take advantage of your inexperience omen”

“Hold on, what do you know about any experiences I may have had or not had?”