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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twenty eight of Cloudy Jewel. This is a LibriVox recording.

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<v Speaker 1>All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more

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<v Speaker 1>information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Recording

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<v Speaker 1>by Tera Mendoza. Cloudy Jewel by Grace livingstone Hill, chapter

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<v Speaker 1>twenty eight. During the next three days there were stirring times,

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<v Speaker 1>and Leslie, even with a heavy heart, was kept busy.

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<v Speaker 1>Clive Terence was ignored as utterly as if he had

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<v Speaker 1>been a fly on the ceiling, and Leslie managed to

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<v Speaker 1>keep every minute full. Moreover, her mind was so much

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<v Speaker 1>occupied with other things that she had not time to

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<v Speaker 1>realize how fully she was cutting their guests out of

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<v Speaker 1>sight of her, nor how utterly amazed it made him.

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<v Speaker 1>He was not accustomed to being ignored by young ladies,

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<v Speaker 1>even though they were both beautiful and rich. He felt

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<v Speaker 1>that he was quite ornamental himself and had plenty of

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<v Speaker 1>money too, and he could not brook any such treatment,

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<v Speaker 1>so he set himself to procure revenge by going hot

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<v Speaker 1>foot after the freshman vamp, who, to tell the truth,

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<v Speaker 1>was much more in his style than Leslie, and quite

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<v Speaker 1>quite willing. Though Leslie, dear child was too absorbed to

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<v Speaker 1>know it. She came home at lunch time a bit

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<v Speaker 1>late and called Allison from the table to give him

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<v Speaker 1>an excited account in a low tone of something that

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<v Speaker 1>had happened that morning. Julia Cloud, from her vandage point

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<v Speaker 1>at the head of the table, could see the flash

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<v Speaker 1>in her eye and the brilliant flush of her soft

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<v Speaker 1>cheeks as she talked and wondered what new trouble had

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<v Speaker 1>come to the dear child. Then she noted the sudden,

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<v Speaker 1>stern set of Allison's jaw and the squaring of his

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<v Speaker 1>shoulder as he listened and questioned. Meanwhile, she passed Clive

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<v Speaker 1>Terence the muffins and jam, and urged more iced tea

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<v Speaker 1>and hot stuffed potato, and kept up a pleasant hum

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<v Speaker 1>of talk so that the excited words should not be

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<v Speaker 1>heard in the dining room. Jane's had a perfectly terrible time,

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<v Speaker 1>had been Leslie's opening sentence. And we've got to do

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<v Speaker 1>something about it, those little cats in the ale, you

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<v Speaker 1>have done the meanest thing you can think of. Jane looked,

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<v Speaker 1>just crushed. They've hauled up that old stuff about her

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<v Speaker 1>father being a forger, and urged it as a reason

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<v Speaker 1>that she shouldn't be made treasurer in place of Anne Dallas,

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<v Speaker 1>who's leaving on account of the death of her father,

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<v Speaker 1>and she has to go home and take care of

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<v Speaker 1>her little sisters. And Jane heard them. A low growl

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<v Speaker 1>of indignation reached Julia Cloud's ears from Allison, who squared

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<v Speaker 1>his shoulders into position for immediate action, they said, went

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<v Speaker 1>on Leslie in excited whisper. They said that since we

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<v Speaker 1>had such a large sum to look out for, now

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<v Speaker 1>that the subscriptions for the sorority house were coming in,

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<v Speaker 1>we should put in a treasurer of tried and true integrity. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>they used just those words, tried and true integrity. Think

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<v Speaker 1>of it, and our Jane, the idea catty little snobs,

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<v Speaker 1>the jealous little cats. No, it wasn't Eugenia Frasier who

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<v Speaker 1>said it. It was Eunice Bryce, but I'm certain she

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<v Speaker 1>was at the bottom of it, for she sat with

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<v Speaker 1>her nice, smug, little painted face, as sweet and complacent

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<v Speaker 1>as an angel all the time it was going on.

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<v Speaker 1>And she seconded the motion just like that with a

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<v Speaker 1>smile too. She said she fully agreed with what miss

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<v Speaker 1>Bryce had said. Agreed hm, as if everyone didn't know

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<v Speaker 1>she had started it and got it all fixed up

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<v Speaker 1>with enough girls to carry the motion before the rest

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<v Speaker 1>of us got down from an exam. Yes, they had

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<v Speaker 1>it thought out as carefully as that. They knew all

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<v Speaker 1>the sophomore girls would be up in that exam till

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<v Speaker 1>almost twelve o'clock, for it's always as long as the

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<v Speaker 1>moral law. Anything with Professor crabs. And they counted up

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<v Speaker 1>and had just enough to a name to carry their motion.

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<v Speaker 1>They even got Marian Hobbs to cut a class to

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<v Speaker 1>get there. They hadn't counted on my getting there in

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<v Speaker 1>time to hear I guess, or else they didn't care.

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<v Speaker 1>Perhaps they wanted me to hear it all. I'm sure

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know. I suppose that must have been it.

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<v Speaker 1>They thought perhaps I'd tell you and that would stop

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<v Speaker 1>you from going with Jane. You know, Eugenia and Eunus

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<v Speaker 1>are both crazy about you, especially Eugenia. An impatient exclamation

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<v Speaker 1>from Alison reached the dining room thunderously, where was Jane?

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<v Speaker 1>Julia caught that anxious question, and then Clive, who had

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<v Speaker 1>evidently heard, also roused himself to ask a question, who

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<v Speaker 1>is this Jane person they talk so much about? I

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<v Speaker 1>don't seem to have seen her. Where is she? She is,

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<v Speaker 1>miss Bristol, said Julia Cloud, stiffening just a little at

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<v Speaker 1>the young fellow's tone of insolence. She is in college

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<v Speaker 1>and very busy, but has been unusually busy since you

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<v Speaker 1>have been here, because she is caring for a little

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<v Speaker 1>child whose mother has been very ill. Oh you mean

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<v Speaker 1>she's a sort of servant, He drawled the question most offensively,

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<v Speaker 1>and Julia Cloud had a sudden, ridiculous impulse to seize

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<v Speaker 1>his sleek shoulder and shake him. Instead, she only smiled

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<v Speaker 1>and quoted a Bible verse, I have seen servants upon horses,

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<v Speaker 1>and princes walking as servants upon the earth. Clive eyed

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<v Speaker 1>her with a puzzled expression. I don't get ya, he

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<v Speaker 1>answered finally, but Julia Cloud made no further comment than

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<v Speaker 1>to pass him a second cup of coffee. She could

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<v Speaker 1>hear the soft, excited whispers still going on in the

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<v Speaker 1>living room, and she longed to fly in there and

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<v Speaker 1>leave this ill bred guest to his own devices, For

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<v Speaker 1>she knew something must have happened to trouble her children,

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<v Speaker 1>and that if this intruder were not present, she would

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<v Speaker 1>be at once taken into their confidence. Still, she had

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<v Speaker 1>to sit and smile and keep him from hearing them.

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie was talking more softly now, with cautious looks toward

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<v Speaker 1>the dining room. Jane had finished her exam and hurried

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<v Speaker 1>down because she thought there would be a lot of business,

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<v Speaker 1>and she wanted Emily Reader to be put in as

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<v Speaker 1>treasurer and was trying to work it and hadn't an idea.

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<v Speaker 1>Alice and I were working it out to put her in.

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<v Speaker 1>We didn't think she would get there, and meant to

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<v Speaker 1>have it all finished before she came. But someone turned

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<v Speaker 1>around and gave a queer little cough just as Eunus

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<v Speaker 1>finished her nasty speech, and we all turned quickly, and

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<v Speaker 1>there in the open door stood Jane, as white as

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<v Speaker 1>a sheet, with her great big blue eyes looking black

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<v Speaker 1>as coals, and such suffering I never saw in a

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<v Speaker 1>human face. And she just stood and looked at them

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<v Speaker 1>all a hurt, loving, searching look, as if she was

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<v Speaker 1>reading their souls. And no one spoke nor moved, only Eunus,

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<v Speaker 1>who got very red, and Eugenia, who straightened up and

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<v Speaker 1>got haughty and hateful, looking as if she was glad.

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<v Speaker 1>Jane heard it all. She had a kind of glitter

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<v Speaker 1>in her eyes, like triumph. And it was very still

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<v Speaker 1>for a whole minute. And then Jane put out her

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<v Speaker 1>hands in a little quick pleading motion and turned away

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<v Speaker 1>quickly and was gone. And what did you do? Allison's

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<v Speaker 1>tone had hope, threat, condemnation, and praise, all held in abeyance.

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<v Speaker 1>On her answer, Leslie drew herself up eagerly, her eyes shining.

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<v Speaker 1>I oh, I wanted to run after her and comfort her,

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<v Speaker 1>but I had something else to do. I jumped up

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<v Speaker 1>and offered my resignation to the A O U and

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<v Speaker 1>said I wished to withdraw my subscription to the sorority house.

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<v Speaker 1>That I couldn't have anything to do with a bunch

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<v Speaker 1>of girls that would stand for a thing as contemptible

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<v Speaker 1>and mean as that. Of course, said Allison, with a

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<v Speaker 1>proud look at his sister, and Phoebe Kemp jumped up

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<v Speaker 1>and withdrew hers until they all apologized to Jane, and

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<v Speaker 1>then Alice Low said she'd have to withdraw hers too.

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<v Speaker 1>She's given the highest amount subscribed. You know, she has

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<v Speaker 1>slews of money all on her own right because she's

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<v Speaker 1>of age, you know. And then the girls began to

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<v Speaker 1>get scared, and Elsie Dare got right up and said

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<v Speaker 1>she thought there had been some kind of a mistake

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<v Speaker 1>of blunder. They mustn't get excited. They must begin all over,

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<v Speaker 1>and somebody must go after Jane and bring her back

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<v Speaker 1>and explain, as if there was any way to explain

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<v Speaker 1>a bold, bare insult like that. And they sent a

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<v Speaker 1>committee after her. They wanted me to go, but I

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<v Speaker 1>declined to go in their knee. I said I had

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<v Speaker 1>handed him my resignation and I wasn't one of them

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<v Speaker 1>any more, and they might send somebody who would better

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<v Speaker 1>represent them. And they said they hadn't accepted my resignation,

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<v Speaker 1>and a lot of stuff. But they sent off a

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<v Speaker 1>committee to find Jane, and they tried to think up

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<v Speaker 1>something quickly to say to her, and they got Eunus

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<v Speaker 1>Bryce crying and made Eugenia real mad. So the powder

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<v Speaker 1>came off her nose from rubbing it so much, and

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<v Speaker 1>I came away. I've been hunting for Jane for half

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<v Speaker 1>an hour, but I can't find her in any of

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<v Speaker 1>the places she always is. And I thought i'd better

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<v Speaker 1>come and tell you, that's right, I'll find her. Allison

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<v Speaker 1>made one step to the hat rack and took his hat, then,

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<v Speaker 1>raising his voice cloudy, I've been called away on business suddenly.

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<v Speaker 1>Don't bother keeping anything for me. I've had all I want.

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<v Speaker 1>And he was gone. Julia Cloud gave a glance at

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<v Speaker 1>Allison's plate and saw that he had scarcely touched his lunch,

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<v Speaker 1>and she sighed as she heard Leslie running quickly up

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<v Speaker 1>the stairs and shut the door of her own room.

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<v Speaker 1>Was Leslie going to spend the afternoon in weeping? But

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<v Speaker 1>Leslie was down again in a moment, and standing in

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<v Speaker 1>the doorway, her curls tumbled, her eyes bright and anxious,

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<v Speaker 1>an indignant little set of her lips and chin giving

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<v Speaker 1>her a worried expression. Juel, dear, I've got to go.

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<v Speaker 1>There's something important on. I'll tell you about it all

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<v Speaker 1>when I get back. No, please, I couldn't eat right now.

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<v Speaker 1>You get cherry to save me some strawberry shortcake. And

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<v Speaker 1>she was off like a breeze and out of sight.

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<v Speaker 1>Wait a minute, Leslie, I'll go up with you, called Clive,

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<v Speaker 1>with his mouthful of short cake and cream. But Leslie

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<v Speaker 1>was already whirling down the street like the wind. Allison

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<v Speaker 1>had taken the car, so there was nothing left for

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<v Speaker 1>Clive to do but finish his shortcake and think up

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<v Speaker 1>some form of amusement with the freshman vamp for the afternoon. Allison, meantime,

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<v Speaker 1>had made a straight dash for the college and sent

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<v Speaker 1>a message up to Jane that he must see her

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<v Speaker 1>at once on very important business. After what's to him

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<v Speaker 1>an endless wait. Word came down that Jane was not

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<v Speaker 1>in her room and her roommate knew nothing of her whereabouts.

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<v Speaker 1>Allison made a wild dive for his car and drove

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<v Speaker 1>to every one of the places where Jane sometimes went

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<v Speaker 1>to help out with the children when their mothers were

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<v Speaker 1>particularly busy, But no Jane materialized. He drove madly back

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<v Speaker 1>to the college forgetting his usual cool philosophy of life

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<v Speaker 1>and fancying all sorts of terrible things that might have

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<v Speaker 1>happened to Jane. He swept past Eugenia Fraser without even

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<v Speaker 1>seeing her, and brought up in front of the office

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<v Speaker 1>once more, intending to send up and see if Jane

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<v Speaker 1>had yet returned. But on the steps stood Leslie waiting

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<v Speaker 1>for him. She's gone to the woods up above the

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<v Speaker 1>old quarry, she said anxiously. I've just found out Benny

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<v Speaker 1>the kitchen boy told me. He says he saw her

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<v Speaker 1>go out between chemistry Hall and the Boy's Jim about

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<v Speaker 1>an hour ago. She must have gone right after she

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<v Speaker 1>left the meeting. Nobody seems to have seen her since.

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<v Speaker 1>Nobody but Benny knows anything about her going to the wood.

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<v Speaker 1>And I gave him some money and told him not

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<v Speaker 1>to say anything about it if any one asked. I

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<v Speaker 1>was just going to hunt her. That's all right, Kit,

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<v Speaker 1>You take the car and i'll follow up the road.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll go through the woods and look for her, said Alison,

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<v Speaker 1>springing out. You will be careful, won't you. You know

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<v Speaker 1>that quarry is terribly deep. I know, said Alice in

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<v Speaker 1>his tone, showing his own anxiety. And Jane hasn't scrambled

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<v Speaker 1>around here as much as we have. She hasn't had time.

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<v Speaker 1>And there is so much undergrowth close up to the edge.

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<v Speaker 1>One could come up on it unaware, especially if one

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<v Speaker 1>was excited and not paying attention. I better beat it.

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<v Speaker 1>Jump in and drive me round the college and I'll

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<v Speaker 1>get off at the gym. Leslie sprang in and Allison

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<v Speaker 1>stood on the running board. His sister cast a wistful

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<v Speaker 1>glance at him as she started the car. Allison, I

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<v Speaker 1>think maybe you needn't worry, she said softly. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>Jane is real. She isn't weak like some people. She

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<v Speaker 1>won't go all to pieces like well like I would.

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<v Speaker 1>God means something to her, you know, I know, said

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<v Speaker 1>Alison gravely gently. Thank you, Kit Well, I get off here,

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<v Speaker 1>Mimi at the top of the second hill in half

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<v Speaker 1>an hour and hang around there for a bit. I

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<v Speaker 1>may whistle see so long. He dashed off between the

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<v Speaker 1>buildings and disappeared between the trees and the edge of

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<v Speaker 1>the woods. Leslie whirled off down the drive to the street.

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<v Speaker 1>As she passed the big Stone Gateway, ivy garlanded and

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<v Speaker 1>sweet with climbing roses, three seniors turned into the drive,

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<v Speaker 1>and the foremost of the three was Howard Letchworth. Her

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<v Speaker 1>heart leaped up with joy that here was some one

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<v Speaker 1>who would understand and sympathize, and she put her foot

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<v Speaker 1>to the brake to slow down, with the light of

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<v Speaker 1>welcome in her eyes. But before she could stop, he

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<v Speaker 1>had lifted his hat and passed on with the others,

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<v Speaker 1>as if he were just any one. Of course, he

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<v Speaker 1>had not seen her intention, did not realize that she

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<v Speaker 1>wanted to speak with him, yet it hurt her. A

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<v Speaker 1>week or two before, she would have called after him,

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<v Speaker 1>or even backed the car to catch him. But now

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<v Speaker 1>something froze within her, and with her heart beating wildly

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<v Speaker 1>and tears scorching her eyes, she put on speed and

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<v Speaker 1>whirled away way up the hill. It seemed to her

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<v Speaker 1>that all her lovely world was breaking into pieces under

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<v Speaker 1>her feet. If it had not been that she was

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<v Speaker 1>worried about Jane, she would have been tempted to abandon

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<v Speaker 1>everything and rush off in some wild way by herself, anywhere,

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<v Speaker 1>to be alone and face the ache in her heart.

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<v Speaker 1>It was such a torrent of deep mingled feelings, hurt,

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<v Speaker 1>pride and anger, humiliation and pain. All these words rushed

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<v Speaker 1>through her mind. But there was something else besides, something

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<v Speaker 1>that ought to have been beautiful and wonderful and was

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<v Speaker 1>only shame and pain. And she had not yet come

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<v Speaker 1>to the point where she was willing to call that

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<v Speaker 1>something by name. She knew that soon she must face

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<v Speaker 1>the truth and have it out with herself. And so

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<v Speaker 1>her cheeks flamed and paled, and the tears scorched and

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<v Speaker 1>hurt in her eyes and throat, and she tried to

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<v Speaker 1>put it all away and think about Jane, poor hurt Jane.

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<v Speaker 1>Jane gone into the woods to have it, but with herself.

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<v Speaker 1>But Jane was strong, and Jane trusted in God. Her

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<v Speaker 1>God was strong too. Jane would come through only the sweeter.

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<v Speaker 1>But what would become of her little, fiery, tempetuous Leslie,

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<v Speaker 1>who always did the wrong thing first and was sorry afterwards,

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<v Speaker 1>and who forgot God when she needed him most? These

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<v Speaker 1>thoughts flitted like visions through her brain while she put

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<v Speaker 1>on all speed and tore away up the hill at

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<v Speaker 1>a much faster rate than she had any business to do.

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<v Speaker 1>But the road was clear ahead of her, and there

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<v Speaker 1>was some relief in flying along through space this way.

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<v Speaker 1>It seemed to clear the mist from her brain and

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<v Speaker 1>cool down her throbbing pulses. Yet just when she would

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<v Speaker 1>think she had control of her thoughts, that stern, distant

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<v Speaker 1>expression on Howard's face would come between her and the

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<v Speaker 1>afternoon brightness, and back would roll the trouble with renewed vigor.

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<v Speaker 1>What a world this was, anyway? And why did people

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<v Speaker 1>have to live just trouble, trouble, trouble everywhere? And who

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<v Speaker 1>would have thought there would come trouble between her and Howard?

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<v Speaker 1>Such good friends as they had been, now almost two years,

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<v Speaker 1>two wonderful years, and again her weary brain would be

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<v Speaker 1>over the question what had been the matter, What made

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<v Speaker 1>Howard act that way? Surely nothing she could have done.

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<v Speaker 1>End of Chapter twenty eight. Recording by Terra Mendoza, Phoenix, Arizona,

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<v Speaker 1>April two thousand eleven.