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He paused

"I'll have to bury the poor thing," he said

For athe makeshift coffin in his arms

"Don't we have to report it to someone?" I asked

"If we do that, Olivia, this terrible event will be headline news in every home and tavern in Provincetown It would definitely do Belinda no good, and it would be very da

ing to the fa all this a secret froorously and make sure no one else knows about it," he added

"Yes, Daddy"

"Don't forget As soon as you finish with her, please look in on your mother"

"I will, Daddy"

He stared for a moment and then looked at the box in his arms

"It has to be this way," he concluded, ht He turned and hurried out of the bedroom with the box cradled securely in his arms

I returned to the tub and saw to it that Belinda washed herself I helped her dry her body and then I brought her a new, clean nightgown After I got her back into bed, I went downstairs to the utility roo inCars and soent Then I returned to Belinda's room and filled the pail with hot water

Fortunately, she had lowered herself fro had absorbedand then washed away any traces of the horrendous event Belinda lay there with her eyes closed,As I worked, I rattled off a relentless series of complaints and chastisements

"You've really done it this tih to be a corpse, too We'll all have nighto aithout anyone knowing?"

I paused and looked down at her wilting little face