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196
THE PATAGONIA
II
said. 'You must take care that Jasper neglects nothing.'
I know not what reflection this innocent pleasantry of mine provoked on the good lady's part; the upshot of them at all events was to make her say—'Well, I never asked her to come; I'm very glad of that. It is all their own doing.'
'Their own—you mean Jasper's and hers?'
'No indeed. I mean her mother's and Mrs. Allen's; the girl's too of course. They put themselves upon us.'
'Oh yes, I can testify to that. Therefore I'm glad too. We should have missed it, I think.'
'How seriously you take it!' Mrs. Nettlepoint exclaimed.
'Ah, wait a few days!' I replied, getting up to leave her.
