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A STRANGE, SAD COMEDY
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near, I fancy—and we have been so carefully brought up by dear mama, and so often warned against associating with reckless girls, that I am not quite sure that we ought to know her when we go to Virginia."

Here Mrs. Chessingham's confidence in Reggie came to her help.

"Now don't say that, Ethel dear. Reggie thinks her a charming girl, and you saw for yourself nobody seemed to take her seriously except ourselves, so the best thing for you to do is to go on quietly and be guided by circumstances."

"But the way she made eyes!" said Miss Maywood, disgustedly. "It's perfectly plain she means to marry either Mr. Romaine or Sir Archy—she advertises the fact so plainly that she 'll probably overshoot the mark. At all events, I shall be on my guard, and unless I am much mistaken, you will find that we can't afford to know her."

Meanwhile Letty, in the little sitting-room of their lodgings, was haranguing Colonel Corbin and Miss Jemima upon Miss Maywood's iniquities.

"The most brazen piece, Aunt Jemima, actually saying that any girl would marry that