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coolness¡¡that¡¡any¡¡great¡¡task¡¡requires¡£'

'I¡¡presume¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡write¡¡more¡¡poems£¿'

'I¡¡cannotthat¡¡is£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡write¡¡no¡¡more¡¡that¡¡satisfy¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡blossom
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themsurrounded¡¡by¡¡gaunt¡¡realities¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡different
description¡£'

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'Except¡¡to¡¡seem¡¡stupid¡¡when¡¡you¡¡have¡¡none£»'¡¡said¡¡Christopher£»
looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡leaves¡£

Ethelberta¡¡allowed¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡linger¡¡on¡¡that¡¡thought¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few
seconds£»¡¡and¡¡continued£»¡¡'Then¡¡the¡¡question¡¡arose£»¡¡what¡¡was¡¡I¡¡to¡¡do£¿
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decided¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡in¡¡public¡£'

'Not¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage£¿'

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exhibited¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡way¡¡effect¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡extraordinary¡¡powers
exhibited¡¡in¡¡an¡¡old¡¡way¡£'

'Yesso¡¡they¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡extraordinary¡¡powers£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡new¡¡way¡¡too£»
would¡¡be¡¡irresistible¡£'

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request£»¡¡when¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡utterly¡¡inane¡¡over
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'Well¡¡thought¡¡of£¡'¡¡exclaimed¡¡Christopher£»¡¡looking¡¡into¡¡her¡¡face¡£
'There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡way¡¡for¡¡everybody¡¡to¡¡live£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can¡¡only¡¡find¡¡it
out¡£'

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my¡¡own¡¡voice¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡listeners¡£'

'If¡¡I¡¡only¡¡had¡¡had¡¡half¡¡your¡¡enterprise£»¡¡what¡¡I¡¡might¡¡have¡¡done¡¡in
the¡¡world£¡'

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my¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡Well£¿'

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and¡¡was¡¡caused¡¡by¡¡a¡¡look¡¡that¡¡Christopher¡¡was¡¡bending¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡at
the¡¡moment£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡revealed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡less¡¡of¡¡the
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unworthy¡¡source£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡forgiven¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general¡¡world¡¡as¡¡it
was¡¡here¡£

'I¡¡was¡¡only¡¡following¡¡a¡¡thought£»'¡¡said¡¡Christopher£º'a¡¡thought¡¡of
how¡¡I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡know¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡then
discovered¡¡you¡¡famous£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡we¡¡are¡¡here¡¡under¡¡these¡¡sad¡¡autumn
trees£»¡¡and¡¡nobody¡¡in¡¡sight¡£'

'I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡tea¡­time£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡¡¡'Tea¡¡is¡¡a¡¡great
meal¡¡with¡¡us¡¡hereyou¡¡will¡¡join¡¡us£»¡¡will¡¡you¡¡not£¿'¡¡¡¡And¡¡Ethelberta
began¡¡to¡¡make¡¡for¡¡herself¡¡a¡¡passage¡¡through¡¡the¡¡boughs¡£¡¡¡¡Another
rustle¡¡was¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡little¡¡way¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children¡¡appeared¡£

'Emmeline¡¡wants¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡please£»¡¡if¡¡the¡¡gentleman¡¡that¡¡come¡¡to¡¡see
'ee¡¡will¡¡stay¡¡to¡¡tea£»¡¡because£»¡¡if¡¡so£»¡¡she's¡¡agoing¡¡to¡¡put¡¡in¡¡another
spoonful¡¡for¡¡him¡¡and¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡best¡¡green¡£'

'O¡¡Georginahow¡¡candid£¡¡¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡put¡¡in¡¡some¡¡best¡¡green¡£'

Before¡¡Christopher¡¡could¡¡say¡¡any¡¡more¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡emerging¡¡by
the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cottage£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brothers¡¡drew¡¡near¡¡them¡£
'Mr¡£¡¡Julian£»¡¡you'll¡¡bide¡¡and¡¡have¡¡a¡¡cup¡¡of¡¡tea¡¡wi'¡¡us£¿'¡¡¡¡he¡¡inquired
of¡¡Christopher¡£¡¡¡¡'An¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡yours£»¡¡is¡¡he¡¡not£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Petherwin£¿
Dan¡¡and¡¡I¡¡be¡¡going¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Sandbourne¡¡to¡­night£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡can¡¡walk¡¡with
'ee¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡station¡£'

'I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡delighted£»'¡¡said¡¡Christopher£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡entered¡¡the
cottage¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡evening¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡clearer¡¡by¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡was
peeping¡¡out¡¡just¡¡previous¡¡to¡¡departure£»¡¡and¡¡sent¡¡gold¡¡wires¡¡of¡¡light
across¡¡the¡¡glades¡¡and¡¡into¡¡the¡¡windows£»¡¡throwing¡¡a¡¡pattern¡¡of¡¡the
diamond¡¡quarries£»¡¡and¡¡outlines¡¡of¡¡the¡¡geraniums¡¡in¡¡pots£»¡¡against¡¡the
opposite¡¡wall¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡¡was¡¡polygonal£»¡¡such¡¡a¡¡shape
being¡¡dictated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡exterior¡¡design£»¡¡in¡¡this¡¡part¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡were
placed£»¡¡as¡¡at¡¡the¡¡east¡¡end¡¡of¡¡continental¡¡churches¡£¡¡¡¡Thus£»¡¡from¡¡the
combined¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ecclesiastical¡¡lancet¡¡lights¡¡and¡¡the¡¡apsidal
shape¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡Christopher¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sisters¡¡were
all¡¡a¡¡delightful¡¡set¡¡of¡¡pretty¡¡saints£»¡¡exhibiting¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡a
lady¡¡chapel£»¡¡and¡¡backed¡¡up¡¡by¡¡unkempt¡¡major¡¡prophets£»¡¡as¡¡represented
by¡¡the¡¡forms¡¡of¡¡their¡¡big¡¡brothers¡£

Christopher¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡to¡¡tea¡¡as¡¡invited£»¡¡squeezing¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡between
two¡¡children¡¡whose¡¡names¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡their¡¡persons£»¡¡and
whose¡¡tin¡¡cups¡¡discoursed¡¡primitive¡¡music¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡spoons¡¡rattled
inside¡¡them¡¡until¡¡they¡¡were¡¡filled¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tea¡¡proceeded¡¡pleasantly£»
notwithstanding¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cake£»¡¡being¡¡a¡¡little¡¡burnt£»¡¡tasted¡¡on¡¡the
outside¡¡like¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡plums¡¡in¡¡snapdragon¡£¡¡¡¡Christopher¡¡never
could¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡of¡¡Picotee£»¡¡who¡¡continued¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡state¡¡of
flushing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡fixing¡¡her¡¡looks¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡sugar¡­basin£»¡¡except
when¡¡she¡¡glanced¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡window¡¡to¡¡see¡¡how¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡was¡¡going
on£»¡¡and¡¡speaking¡¡no¡¡word¡¡at¡¡all¡¡unless¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡correct¡¡a¡¡small
sister¡¡of¡¡somewhat¡¡crude¡¡manners¡¡as¡¡regards¡¡filling¡¡the¡¡mouth£»¡¡which
Picotee¡¡did¡¡in¡¡a¡¡whisper£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡inclination¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mouth¡¡to
the¡¡little¡¡one's¡¡ear£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡still¡¡deeper¡¡blush¡¡than¡¡before¡£

Their¡¡visitor¡¡next¡¡noticed¡¡that¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡cup¡­and¡­saucer¡¡and
plate¡¡made¡¡their¡¡appearance¡¡occasionally¡¡at¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡were¡¡silently
replenished£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡carried¡¡off¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡children¡¡to¡¡an¡¡inner
apartment¡£

'Our¡¡mother¡¡is¡¡bedridden£»'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta£»¡¡noticing¡¡Christopher's
look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡proceeding¡£¡¡¡¡'Emmeline¡¡attends¡¡to¡¡the¡¡household£»¡¡except
when¡¡Picotee¡¡is¡¡at¡¡home£»¡¡and¡¡Joey¡¡attends¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡but¡¡our
mother's¡¡affliction¡¡is¡¡a¡¡very¡¡unfortunate¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡poor
children¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡thinking¡¡of¡¡a¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡living¡¡which¡¡will£»¡¡I¡¡hope£»
be¡¡more¡¡convenient¡¡than¡¡this¡¡is£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡have¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡decided¡¡what¡¡to
do¡£'¡¡¡¡At¡¡this¡¡minute¡¡a¡¡carriage¡¡and¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡horses¡¡became¡¡visible
through¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡angular¡¡windows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apse£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡act¡¡of
turning¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡park¡¡gate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡who
answered¡¡to¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Joey¡¡sprang¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡table¡¡with¡¡the
promptness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Jack¡­in¡­the¡­box£»¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡¡¡Everybody
turned¡¡as¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡which¡¡Joey¡¡held
open£»¡¡putting¡¡his¡¡other¡¡hand¡¡where¡¡the¡¡brim¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡would¡¡have
been¡¡if¡¡he¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡lapsing¡¡into¡¡a¡¡careless¡¡boy¡¡again¡¡the
instant¡¡that¡¡the¡¡vehicle¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡by¡£

'There's¡¡a¡¡tremendous¡¡large¡¡dinner¡­party¡¡at¡¡the¡¡House¡¡to¡­night£»'
said¡¡Emmeline¡¡methodically£»¡¡looking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡equipage¡¡over¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of
her¡¡teacup£»¡¡without¡¡leaving¡¡off¡¡sipping¡£¡¡¡¡'That¡¡was¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡£
He's¡¡a¡¡wicked¡¡old¡¡man£»¡¡they¡¡say¡£'

'Lord¡¡Mountclere£¿'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta¡¡musingly¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡used¡¡to¡¡know¡¡some
friends¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡what¡¡way¡¡is¡¡he¡¡wicked£¿'

'I¡¡don't¡¡know£»'¡¡said¡¡Emmeline£»¡¡with¡¡simplicity¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡is
because¡¡he¡¡breaks¡¡the¡¡commandments¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡how¡¡a¡¡big¡¡rich
lord¡¡can¡¡want¡¡to¡¡steal¡¡anything¡£'¡¡¡¡Emmeline's¡¡thoughts¡¡of¡¡breaking
commandments¡¡instinctively¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡eighth£»¡¡as¡¡being¡¡in¡¡her
ideas¡¡the¡¡only¡¡case¡¡wherein¡¡the¡¡gain¡¡could¡¡be¡¡considered¡¡as¡¡at¡¡all
worth¡¡the¡¡hazard¡£

Ethelberta¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡but¡¡Christopher¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡a¡¡shade¡¡of
depression¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡her¡£

'Hook¡¡back¡¡the¡¡gate£»¡¡Joey£»'¡¡shouted¡¡Emmeline£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡had
proceeded¡¡up¡¡the¡¡drive¡£¡¡¡¡'There's¡¡more¡¡to¡¡come¡£'

Joey¡¡did¡¡as¡¡ordered£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡he¡¡got¡¡indoors¡¡another¡¡carriage
turned¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡public¡¡roada¡¡o

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