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inaccurate and sketchy, but happily the others were too anxious to pass
opinions to pin her down to particulars. At last they had all the facts
they would permit.
"My dear young lady," said the clergyman, "I can only ascribe this
extravagant and regrettable expedition of yours to the wildest
misconceptions of your place in the world and of your duties and
responsibilities. Even now, it seems to me, your present emotion is due
not so much to a real and sincere penitence for your disobedience and
folly as to a positive annoyance at our most fortunate interference--"
"Not that," said Mrs. Milton, in a low tone. "Not that."
"But WHY did she go off like this?" said Widgery. "That's what I want
to know."
Jessie made an attempt to speak, but Mrs. Milton said "Hush!" and the
ringing tenor of the clergyman rode triumphantly over the meeting. "I
cannot understand this spirit of unrest that has seized upon the more
intelligent portion of the feminine community. You had a pleasant home,
a most refined and intelligent lady in the position of your mother, to
cherish and protect you--"
"If I HAD a mother," gulped Jessie, succumbing to the obvious snare of
self-pity, and sobbing.
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