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<v Speaker 1>Chapter eleven of Wired Love by Ella chiev There This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Miss Kling telegraphically baffled.

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Betsy Kling was quite uneasy in her mind about

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<v Speaker 1>this time, not only because the torpedo refused to see

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<v Speaker 1>himself in the light of that other self and fled

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<v Speaker 1>whenever he saw her approaching, but also because some subtle

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<v Speaker 1>instincts told her that under her very nose was going

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<v Speaker 1>on something of which the details were unknown to her,

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<v Speaker 1>and that listeners she would could not be ascertained this

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<v Speaker 1>good looking young man who had so suddenly appeared on

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<v Speaker 1>Missus Simonson's premises, Who and what was he? From Missus Simonson,

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<v Speaker 1>she learned that he was an old friend of Quimby's,

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<v Speaker 1>that she believed he was an old friend of Miss

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<v Speaker 1>Archer's or Miss Rodgers, or of both, and that his

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<v Speaker 1>father was very wealthy. Hum said Miss Kling, with a

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<v Speaker 1>suspicious sniffle strange that he should room with Quimby if

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<v Speaker 1>his father is so wealthy, but it is not a

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<v Speaker 1>room of his own. He and Quimby are such friends,

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<v Speaker 1>you see, Missus Simmonson explained. Miss Clinton gave another sniffle.

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<v Speaker 1>This time of contempt at such a reason being possible,

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Wardgers is in here about all her time when

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<v Speaker 1>she isn't at the office, As she not's the next question,

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<v Speaker 1>she is very intimate with Miss Archer, Missus Simmonson replied,

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<v Speaker 1>And I suppose he and that Quimby are in their

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<v Speaker 1>wisdom every evening. Are they not pursued? Miss Kling, they

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<v Speaker 1>called quite often, Missus Simminson acknowledged, as did mister Norton

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<v Speaker 1>and Miss Fishblait. They seem to have good times too,

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<v Speaker 1>added kindly, Missus Simonson. The young folks shall be young folks,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, and why not bless you? We never can

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<v Speaker 1>enjoy ourselves again as we do when young. There are

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<v Speaker 1>too many cares and worries when we get to our age.

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Cling rose stiffly. This allusion to our age disgusted

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<v Speaker 1>and offended her beyond pardon, and she flew into a

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<v Speaker 1>spasm of sneezing. Well, I, for one, do not think

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<v Speaker 1>such conduct is proper, she said, as soon as possible.

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<v Speaker 1>I was brought up to understand that young ladies should

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<v Speaker 1>never receive the visits of gentlemen, except in the presence

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<v Speaker 1>of older people. Missus Simonson only laughed a little forced

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<v Speaker 1>laugh she had when she did not know exactly what

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<v Speaker 1>to say for her own part, although not willing to

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<v Speaker 1>offend Miss Cling by saying so, she was glad to

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<v Speaker 1>see her lodgers enjoying themselves, more than glad to have

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<v Speaker 1>Clem there, as on his arrival she had promptly tacked

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<v Speaker 1>an extra dollar on the room rent, under the plea

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<v Speaker 1>that the wear and tear on furniture was greater with

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<v Speaker 1>two in a room. Miss Cling, fearing perhaps another reference

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<v Speaker 1>to our age, left her and next a tacked Celeste Fishblit,

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<v Speaker 1>having long discovered Natty to be impregnable to the process

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<v Speaker 1>known as pumping, a fact that had augmented her ever

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<v Speaker 1>increasing dislike towards her lodger. From Celeste, she learned that

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<v Speaker 1>they had such nice times, that mister Stanward was so splendid,

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<v Speaker 1>and that Miss Archer was just dead in love with

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<v Speaker 1>him and he was her humm, thought Miss Cling, with

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<v Speaker 1>a sneeze. Is that Miss Archer, then is it? The

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<v Speaker 1>next move was to arrest poor Quimby in the hall,

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<v Speaker 1>intending to put him through a series of interrogations regarding

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<v Speaker 1>the antecedents of his friend and the length of his

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<v Speaker 1>acquaintance with Miss Archer. But in this she was baffled,

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<v Speaker 1>for at the first question, Quimby exclaimed, ugh, ugh I

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<v Speaker 1>do know, don't ask me, Anne fled. Miss Cling, much

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<v Speaker 1>to her dissatisfaction, was therefore compelled to make the little

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<v Speaker 1>she had gathered to go as far as it would.

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<v Speaker 1>But she lived in hopes it was perhaps not wonderful

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<v Speaker 1>that Miss Kling, sitting lonely by her fireside and pining

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<v Speaker 1>for her other self, should feel envious, because our lodger,

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<v Speaker 1>whom she took obstensibly for company, was enjoying herself over

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<v Speaker 1>the way evening after evening, and telling her absolutely nothing

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<v Speaker 1>about it, but confining their intercourse to the necessary civilities.

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<v Speaker 1>And doubtedly the few weeks that had passed since Clem's

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<v Speaker 1>appearance on the scene ought to have been the happiest

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<v Speaker 1>in Natty's hitherto lonely life, happier than those in which

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<v Speaker 1>she talked to the then unseen Sea and speculated about

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<v Speaker 1>him with sin. But yet she sometimes felt that a

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<v Speaker 1>certain something that had been on the wire was lacking

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<v Speaker 1>now that Clem, while realizing all her old expectations of Sea,

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<v Speaker 1>was not exactly what Sea had been to her. One

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<v Speaker 1>reason of this, she knew, was her own inability to

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<v Speaker 1>conquer a sort of timidity she felt in his presence,

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<v Speaker 1>a timidity from which Sin was certainly free. Well aware

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<v Speaker 1>that beside the gay and brilliant Sin she was nowhere,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty had a sensitive fear that he might be disappointed

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<v Speaker 1>in her. But she did not yet know that the

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<v Speaker 1>foundation of all these uneasy misgivings of hers was a

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<v Speaker 1>selfish emotion, the same that had prompted that jealous pang

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<v Speaker 1>at sins We the day he first discovered himself. And

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<v Speaker 1>this was that in the wire Sea had been all her,

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<v Speaker 1>but in Clem, Sin seemed to have the largest share.

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<v Speaker 1>Twice he had called on Natty at the office, but

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<v Speaker 1>neither time could stop, and as it happened, on each occasion,

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<v Speaker 1>she was in the midst of a rush of business,

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<v Speaker 1>had left no chance for conversation. But one rainy Saturday afternoon,

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<v Speaker 1>when a general dullness prevailed, as she was fervently wishing

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<v Speaker 1>the hands of the clock might move on faster towards six, Clem,

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<v Speaker 1>holding a very wet umbrella and with water dripping from

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<v Speaker 1>his curly locks, presented himself if he was not. He

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<v Speaker 1>certainly ought to have been flatted by the blush with

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<v Speaker 1>which Natty involuntarily welcomed him. Did you rain down, she

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<v Speaker 1>hastily exclaimed, hoping by this trite commonplace to distract attention

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<v Speaker 1>from the blush of which she was conscious. It appears

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<v Speaker 1>like it, doesn't it, he answered, merrily, giving himself a

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<v Speaker 1>little shake and placing his wet umbrella and hat in

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<v Speaker 1>a corner. It was so dull as the store, I

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<v Speaker 1>thought I would run around to the scene of former

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<v Speaker 1>exploits you not. Sometimes wish I was back at exit

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<v Speaker 1>and to keep you company such days as these. Without

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<v Speaker 1>thinking twice before she spoke once, Natty answered candidly, as

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<v Speaker 1>she placed a chair for her visitor. Yes, I believe

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<v Speaker 1>I do often. I do not know whether to take

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<v Speaker 1>that as a compliment or otherwise, Clem said, looking at

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<v Speaker 1>her as if half vexed. Natty glanced up inquiringly. It

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<v Speaker 1>certainly is a compliment to my abilities for making myself

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<v Speaker 1>agreeable at a distance, but said Clem, with a shrug

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<v Speaker 1>of his shoulders. A poor fellow does not like to

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<v Speaker 1>feel as if the father or way he is, the

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<v Speaker 1>better he is liked. Oh, I did not mean it

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<v Speaker 1>that way at all, exclaimed Natty in a hasty explanation,

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<v Speaker 1>and HEO, I had more of your company on the wire.

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<v Speaker 1>Clem looked pleased. If that is the trouble, he began,

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<v Speaker 1>but Natty interrupted, her face very red. I did not

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<v Speaker 1>mean that either. I meant it was in such a

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<v Speaker 1>different way, you know, and I I could talk more easily.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't believe I know what I do mean. Stopping

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<v Speaker 1>short in embarrassment, Clem looked at her and smiled. Let

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<v Speaker 1>us see if it is any easier talking on the wire,

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<v Speaker 1>he said, and taking the key, he wrote, good p M,

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<v Speaker 1>will you please tell me truly and relieve my mind

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<v Speaker 1>you like me as well as you thought you would.

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<v Speaker 1>Taking the key, he relinquished, and without looking at him,

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<v Speaker 1>she replied, yes. And I suppose I ask you the

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<v Speaker 1>same question. What would you say, politeness aside I should answer,

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<v Speaker 1>wrote Clem, his eyes on the sounder that I have

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<v Speaker 1>found the very little girl expected, and their eyes met,

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<v Speaker 1>and Natty hastily rose and walked to the window for

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<v Speaker 1>no ostensible purpose, and Clem said, going after her. It

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<v Speaker 1>is nicer talking on the wire, isn't it. Natty was

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<v Speaker 1>saved the necessity of replying by some one down the line,

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<v Speaker 1>who just then inquired, it was I talking soft nonsense

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<v Speaker 1>just now? When A allow a sort of thing here?

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<v Speaker 1>I am pertinent, exclaimed Natty. Possibly our red headed friend

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<v Speaker 1>is somewhere about, Clem said, then, taking the key, responded

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<v Speaker 1>to the unknown questioner, don't trouble yourself. I shall not

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<v Speaker 1>talk soft nonsense to you. That sounds like Sea's writing,

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<v Speaker 1>is it was asked quickly. My style must be very

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<v Speaker 1>peculiar to be so readily detected, Clem said to Natty laughingly,

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<v Speaker 1>then replied, on the wire, if you will sign, I

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<v Speaker 1>will tell you. E m Ah, said Clem, and immediately

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<v Speaker 1>acknowledged himself. Then followed a short chat with e m

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<v Speaker 1>in which she endeavored to make him confess what office

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<v Speaker 1>he was then sending, from, which he persistently refused to do.

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<v Speaker 1>Having bade e M good bye enclose the key, he

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<v Speaker 1>said to Natty verbally, we ought to have a private

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<v Speaker 1>wire of our own, since a wire is so necessary

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<v Speaker 1>to our happiness. I see, glancing around the office, that

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<v Speaker 1>you have an extra key in sunder here. Yes, Natty replied,

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<v Speaker 1>we had at one time a railroad wire and when

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<v Speaker 1>it was taken out, the instruments were left and have

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<v Speaker 1>been here ever since. Do you suppose you could take

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<v Speaker 1>them home to practice on, say queried Clem, sparkling his

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<v Speaker 1>brown eyes. Doubtless, if I ask permission, they will allow

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<v Speaker 1>me that privilege, why, asked Natty curiously. I have a

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<v Speaker 1>brilliant idea, replied claiming gaily. But do not be alarmed.

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<v Speaker 1>I am used to it. As Gwemby would say. It

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<v Speaker 1>is this, I myself have a key and saunder relics

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<v Speaker 1>of college days beauties too, And if you can take

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<v Speaker 1>her nose over there, we will have telegraphic communication from

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<v Speaker 1>your room to ours immediately. The wire and battery I

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<v Speaker 1>will fix all right, And when sin is out you

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<v Speaker 1>can't come over, and at odd times we will have

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<v Speaker 1>some of our old chats, but said Natty hesitatingly, although

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<v Speaker 1>evidently delighted with the idea. Miss Kling will never hang.

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Kling, interrupted Clem emphatically, excuse the expression. But she

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<v Speaker 1>deserves it, she never need no. I will undertake to

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<v Speaker 1>arrange everything and keep the secret from her. You count

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<v Speaker 1>for the instruments in your room. Tell her you are

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<v Speaker 1>going to practice at home, and have a pupil sin

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<v Speaker 1>I know, will be delighted to amuse herself by learning.

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<v Speaker 1>I shall it very much acknowledged, Natty, But I allow

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<v Speaker 1>no butt clem interrupted with gay decision. You get the instruments,

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<v Speaker 1>tell me the first time Miss Kling goes out to

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<v Speaker 1>spend the day and leave the rest to me. Natty

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<v Speaker 1>needed little urging, being only too willing to have some

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<v Speaker 1>more of those old confidential chats with sea which nobody

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<v Speaker 1>could share, and the required promise was given. Strange it

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<v Speaker 1>is how circumstances alter cases. Coming to the office that morning,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty had found it disagreeable and hard enough to buffet

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<v Speaker 1>the storm, and had growled at herself all the way

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<v Speaker 1>because she was not smart enough to get on in

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<v Speaker 1>the world, even so far as to be able to

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<v Speaker 1>stay home in such weather. The storms of nature, like

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<v Speaker 1>storms of life, are hardest to a woman trammeled. There

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<v Speaker 1>she is in the one by long skirts that will

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<v Speaker 1>drag in the mud and clothe at every gust of

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<v Speaker 1>wind catches, and in the other by prejudices and impediments

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<v Speaker 1>of every kind that the world, in consideration doubtless for

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<v Speaker 1>her so called weakness, throws in her way. But now

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<v Speaker 1>on her way home, Natty minded not the wind and

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<v Speaker 1>rather enjoyed the rain. It may be that this total

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<v Speaker 1>change in her sentence was due to the fact that

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<v Speaker 1>Clem held the umbrella. Miss Kling saw them come into

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<v Speaker 1>the hotel together west and merry and scowled. Perhaps in

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<v Speaker 1>former days she had gone home under an umbrella with somebody,

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<v Speaker 1>a possible other self, and she knew all about the

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<v Speaker 1>enjoyability of the experience. But Natty did not even notice

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<v Speaker 1>her landlady's acrimonious glance, and sang a gay song as

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<v Speaker 1>she changed her bedrabbled dress. Sin, who was of course

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<v Speaker 1>immediately informed about the projected private Wire, was delighted with

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<v Speaker 1>the idea and began studying the Morse alphabet at once.

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<v Speaker 1>And the best of water Wall is the greg going

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<v Speaker 1>to get the better that argaside, Dragon, said syn if

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<v Speaker 1>we can, Natty replied with emphasis, Oh but clear, miss

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<v Speaker 1>shure that part, Sym said, with a great confidence. But

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<v Speaker 1>Natty shook her head dubiously. She is so inquisitive, she remarked, Yes.

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<v Speaker 1>And the most despicable character on earth to me is

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<v Speaker 1>a person whose chief object in life is gossip. My

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<v Speaker 1>life is too short to take care of our own affairs.

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<v Speaker 1>In I wish you would leave her in coming room

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<v Speaker 1>with me, exclaimed sin indignant. Missus Simpson would not dare

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<v Speaker 1>have me. She is afraid of Miss Cling, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>but I wish I might, for I am tired of

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<v Speaker 1>being here. Natty replied discontentedly. Well, we will have our

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<v Speaker 1>wire at all events, and for once something shall be

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<v Speaker 1>that Miss Cling will not know, said syn exultantly. Unconsciously,

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<v Speaker 1>the dreaded individual favored them shortly after by going to

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<v Speaker 1>spend the evening with friends after her own heart. Very genteel,

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<v Speaker 1>but in reduced circumstances, and as the instruments were already

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<v Speaker 1>they had only been waiting for her absence, Clem went

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<v Speaker 1>to work. He was assisted by the willing Joe, who

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<v Speaker 1>argued that running awhile was solid work and not romantic,

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<v Speaker 1>and by Quimby, who viewed the arrangement as another formidable

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<v Speaker 1>link in the chain of his rival, and clamored wildly

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<v Speaker 1>for a telephone, because anybody could use a telephone. But that,

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<v Speaker 1>as Clem said, was exactly what they did not want. Consequently, Grimby,

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<v Speaker 1>as he lent his aid, felt himself a very martyr. However,

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<v Speaker 1>he was by this time used to it, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>as he would have said, having viewed himself in that

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<v Speaker 1>light since his unwitting resurrection of sea. Still he sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>fancied he could see a dim light shining ahead through

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<v Speaker 1>the gloom, a hope that Clem might be fascinated by sin.

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<v Speaker 1>Many were Quimby argued, so why should not Clem be?

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<v Speaker 1>And certainly he talked with her more than he did

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<v Speaker 1>with Natty. In Natty's room, they placed the instruments on

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<v Speaker 1>a small shelf put up for the purpose just outside

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<v Speaker 1>her closet, and run the wire through the closet into

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<v Speaker 1>the hall outside, and thence along so close to the

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<v Speaker 1>wall that it was not noticeable except to those who knew,

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<v Speaker 1>and then into Missus Simonson's apartments. Here no concealment was

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<v Speaker 1>necess as Missus Simmonson had been informed of the plan,

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<v Speaker 1>and although Trembling lest the vials of missus Ling's wrath

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<v Speaker 1>would be poured on her head should that lady discover

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00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.440
<v Speaker 1>the arrangement, had no objections to offer if they were

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<v Speaker 1>positive the electricity on the wire would not wear out

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00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:19.519
<v Speaker 1>the carpet or injure the table, which was the terminus

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<v Speaker 1>in Quimby and Clem's room. Having satisfied her on this point,

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00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:26.919
<v Speaker 1>they deemed it expedient not to show her the battery

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<v Speaker 1>in their closet, fearing alarm lest it might eat through

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00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:35.200
<v Speaker 1>the woman overpower her. And now said Clem gaily, when

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<v Speaker 1>all was finished, unfortunately without attracting attention, not even Celeste

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<v Speaker 1>being in the secret. Now, Quimby, we can dispense with

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<v Speaker 1>that alarm clock we were intending to buy. I beg pardon,

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<v Speaker 1>but I don't quite catch your meaning, the martyr replied,

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<v Speaker 1>in evident surprise. Why nat is to be our alarm clock,

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<v Speaker 1>explained Clem, laughing, She is, from necessity an early riser,

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<v Speaker 1>and I will depend on her to call on our

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<v Speaker 1>wire at precisely six thirty every morning and continue calling

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<v Speaker 1>until I answer. I certainly will, Natty replied, But I

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<v Speaker 1>will venture to predict that both you and Quimby will

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00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:15.639
<v Speaker 1>privately call me all sorts of names for doing. It

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00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:18.960
<v Speaker 1>makes people so ready cross to be aroused one morning. Nap.

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<v Speaker 1>You know it doesn't make me cross. I assure you

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<v Speaker 1>it will be a pleasure, quickly exclaimed Quimby, who was

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<v Speaker 1>delighted with this idea of the alarm clock. I will

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<v Speaker 1>report him if he shows the least symptom of growling.

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<v Speaker 1>After that assertion, Clem said to Natty somewhat to Quimby's

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<v Speaker 1>internal agitation, for to tell the truth, he was not

275
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<v Speaker 1>really quite certain of being in a state of rapture

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<v Speaker 1>at six thirty every morning, even when awoke by the

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00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:50.840
<v Speaker 1>clatter of a sounder of which the motive power was

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00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:56.320
<v Speaker 1>his innamorata. And now to christen our wire. Natty, who

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00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:59.120
<v Speaker 1>was in high spirit, said gaily, and she ran over

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<v Speaker 1>to her room, and a half hour's chat with Sea

281
00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:05.480
<v Speaker 1>followed before she went to bed. For a week after however,

282
00:16:05.639 --> 00:16:08.720
<v Speaker 1>she lived, as it were, on Thorn's and came home

283
00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:14.600
<v Speaker 1>every night half expecting an explosion. None came. However, Miss

284
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<v Speaker 1>Kling's eyes were not as good as they once had been,

285
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<v Speaker 1>what with their long service watching for that other self

286
00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:24.440
<v Speaker 1>and overlooking her neighbors. The hall was dark, she had

287
00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.559
<v Speaker 1>no duplicate key to Natty's always locked room, and the

288
00:16:27.639 --> 00:16:32.360
<v Speaker 1>small wire nestling close to the wall was undiscovered. Of course,

289
00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.039
<v Speaker 1>she heard the clatter of the saunder, But this, Natty explained,

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00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:40.360
<v Speaker 1>on the score of practice. Well, I am sure, said

291
00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.279
<v Speaker 1>miss Klings, snappishly, I should think you would get practice

292
00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.639
<v Speaker 1>enough at the office without sitting up nights to do it,

293
00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:49.759
<v Speaker 1>at which Natty turned away to hide a blush, aware

294
00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:52.799
<v Speaker 1>that Sea and She sometimes talked even into the small

295
00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:56.240
<v Speaker 1>hours in their zeal, doubtless that the new wire should

296
00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:59.960
<v Speaker 1>not rust out for lack of using. But this telegraph

297
00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:03.919
<v Speaker 1>arrangement came hardest on poor Quimby, who, between his jealousy

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<v Speaker 1>when the two were communicating, his inability to understand what

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00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:10.599
<v Speaker 1>was being said, and the impossibility of sleeping with such

300
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:14.039
<v Speaker 1>clatter in the room, lost his appetite and invoked anything

301
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<v Speaker 1>but blessings on the head of that morse man who

302
00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:21.079
<v Speaker 1>had made such things possible. Sin had no intention of

303
00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:23.799
<v Speaker 1>being left out in the cold, and making Joe join

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00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.960
<v Speaker 1>her began the study of telegraphy, and the two hammered

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<v Speaker 1>away incessantly. It began to be observable about this time

306
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<v Speaker 1>that Joe was very willing to be led about by

307
00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:36.920
<v Speaker 1>the nose by Sin. Why was not so apparent, perhaps

308
00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:41.079
<v Speaker 1>because there was no romance in it. Sin learned the

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<v Speaker 1>quicker of the two, as she was soon able slowly

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<v Speaker 1>and uncertainly to call Natty asked her to come over

311
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<v Speaker 1>or impart any little information, but was always driven frantic

312
00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:54.880
<v Speaker 1>by the attempt to make out Natty's reply, however slowly written.

313
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<v Speaker 1>Sinn tried to induce Quimby to overcome the horrors of

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<v Speaker 1>those little black marks the alphabet and their sounds, but

315
00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:06.640
<v Speaker 1>he recoiled from the effort as hopeless. However, whenever they

316
00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:09.839
<v Speaker 1>made candy, as they often did, he had an opportunity

317
00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:13.240
<v Speaker 1>of distinguishing himself that he did not fail to improve

318
00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:16.720
<v Speaker 1>on the first occasion. So uneasy was he about a

319
00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:20.279
<v Speaker 1>quiet conversation Clem and Natty were having that he absently

320
00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:22.960
<v Speaker 1>put the mass of candy had been pulling into his

321
00:18:23.039 --> 00:18:26.599
<v Speaker 1>pocket to cool. It did cool, but he sold the

322
00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.079
<v Speaker 1>coat afterwards to a boid the office. Next time, he

323
00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:33.079
<v Speaker 1>forgot to grease his hands and stuck himself so together

324
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<v Speaker 1>that they had the utmost difficulty in getting him apart.

325
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<v Speaker 1>But as he said, it's no matter. I won't be

326
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<v Speaker 1>used to it, you know. He capped the climax, however,

327
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<v Speaker 1>by accidentally dropping a large handful warm on top of

328
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<v Speaker 1>Celeste's head, aggravating the offense by telling to to go

329
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<v Speaker 1>quick and silker head, which, although it was what she

330
00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:58.920
<v Speaker 1>eventually did was too much like a certain slang phrase

331
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<v Speaker 1>much in vogue for human nature to endure, and giving

332
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<v Speaker 1>him an angry look, the only one on record ever

333
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.640
<v Speaker 1>given by her to a man. She rushed from the

334
00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:12.519
<v Speaker 1>room and was seen no more that evening. After this exploit,

335
00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.599
<v Speaker 1>whenever Molasses Candy was on the program, they made a

336
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<v Speaker 1>rule that Quimby should sit in the corner on the

337
00:19:18.319 --> 00:19:21.480
<v Speaker 1>old familiar stool and not move until all was over,

338
00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:26.319
<v Speaker 1>a rule to which he submitted meekly. But he was

339
00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:30.279
<v Speaker 1>not happy. In truth, all his joys in these days

340
00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.279
<v Speaker 1>were mixed with alloy between the painted monopoly of Celeste,

341
00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:36.920
<v Speaker 1>who of late, and since she had given up every

342
00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.960
<v Speaker 1>one else as hopeless, had devoted herself entirely to him,

343
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<v Speaker 1>and to secret jealousy of Clem. Strangely enough, with the

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<v Speaker 1>exception of sin, no one was aware of the exact

345
00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:52.759
<v Speaker 1>state of his mind. Clem was as unconscious of it

346
00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:56.119
<v Speaker 1>as a child, for any peculiarity in his behavior was

347
00:19:56.160 --> 00:20:00.319
<v Speaker 1>laid to his well known idiosyncrasies. Celeste suspected he was

348
00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:03.559
<v Speaker 1>in love, but was blindly determined to believe she was

349
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<v Speaker 1>the chief attraction in his eyes. Natty, if she thought

350
00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.599
<v Speaker 1>about it, at all imagined. He was entirely cured of

351
00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:14.640
<v Speaker 1>that former foolishness, as she termed his one attempt to

352
00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:18.240
<v Speaker 1>put his devotion into words. And as for Joe being

353
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<v Speaker 1>so opposed to anything of a sentimental nature himself, naturally

354
00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.119
<v Speaker 1>he was unwilling to observe any indications of the kind

355
00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.759
<v Speaker 1>in another, and any glaring revelations that forced themselves on

356
00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:32.839
<v Speaker 1>his notice, he, in common with Clem, decided was only

357
00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:37.920
<v Speaker 1>Quimby's way. Oh dear, no, Joe could see nothing but plain,

358
00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:41.839
<v Speaker 1>unromantic facts. It was no sentiment or anything of the

359
00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:44.880
<v Speaker 1>sort on Joe's part, of course, that made him reproduce

360
00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:48.480
<v Speaker 1>the handsome, brilliant face of Sin in so many of

361
00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:52.079
<v Speaker 1>his recent pictures. Oh no, she was a good study.

362
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.759
<v Speaker 1>That was all, nor that caused him to seek a

363
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<v Speaker 1>society in preference to all others. To listen entranced when

364
00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:02.039
<v Speaker 1>she sang, and to be exceedingly annoyed a rare thing

365
00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:05.079
<v Speaker 1>once for good humored Joe when Clem was given more

366
00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:08.440
<v Speaker 1>than his share of her attention. Again, Oh no, Sin

367
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<v Speaker 1>was a fellow bohemian, a congenial spirit that was all

368
00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:17.279
<v Speaker 1>neither in the least sentimental nor jealous. Was Joe, And

369
00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.440
<v Speaker 1>for all that, and for some unexplained reason, it was

370
00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:23.079
<v Speaker 1>not quite so, even in his spirits as he was

371
00:21:23.119 --> 00:21:27.440
<v Speaker 1>wont to be, sometimes being very happy, then terribly depressed.

372
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<v Speaker 1>Did he eat too much or too little? Which, for

373
00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:33.599
<v Speaker 1>it was not the first commencement of a first love,

374
00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.160
<v Speaker 1>and of course it was not. It must have been

375
00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:40.480
<v Speaker 1>his digestion that ailed him. Had Miss Betsy Cling known

376
00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:44.680
<v Speaker 1>of these little uneasy undercurrents amidst the gaiety that so

377
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.680
<v Speaker 1>annoyed her, the knowledge would doubtless have given her much satisfaction.

378
00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:52.279
<v Speaker 1>Besides possibly the inklings, she could not now obtain of

379
00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:55.920
<v Speaker 1>what was going on. It was a source of great

380
00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.160
<v Speaker 1>distress to her that she could not ascertain whether it

381
00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.920
<v Speaker 1>was sin or not with whom Clem was flirting, For

382
00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:06.079
<v Speaker 1>she was positive he was trifling with the affections of

383
00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:08.400
<v Speaker 1>one or the other, and that matters would end in

384
00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:12.440
<v Speaker 1>some kind of horrible scandal. But for all her listening

385
00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:15.519
<v Speaker 1>and prying around, she could not seem to gain much

386
00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:19.839
<v Speaker 1>information except that everybody but herself and perhaps the old

387
00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:23.640
<v Speaker 1>gentleman Fishplait, was having a good time. Or could she

388
00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.400
<v Speaker 1>get hold of anything dreadful, which was the greatest disappointment

389
00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:31.839
<v Speaker 1>of all. One night, however, listening at her own door

390
00:22:31.880 --> 00:22:35.119
<v Speaker 1>as Natty bade Sin good night over the way, Miss

391
00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.680
<v Speaker 1>Cling heard Clem call out from within something that made

392
00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:43.279
<v Speaker 1>her very hair stand on end. It was this, please

393
00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:46.319
<v Speaker 1>wake me up earlier than usual to morrow morning, will you, Natty?

394
00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:51.319
<v Speaker 1>Wake him up? Indeed, thought the outraged but happy Miss

395
00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:54.519
<v Speaker 1>Cling as she wended her way back to her own room.

396
00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:58.119
<v Speaker 1>Pretty goings on, And I knew I heard that machine

397
00:22:58.200 --> 00:23:01.039
<v Speaker 1>clatter when she was not in one day. Machines do

398
00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:05.119
<v Speaker 1>not clatter without a human agency somewhere. There is something

399
00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:08.400
<v Speaker 1>wrong here, and I will find it out. Oh my

400
00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:14.400
<v Speaker 1>name is not Betsy Kling. Wake him up? Indeed, end

401
00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.359
<v Speaker 1>of chapter eleven,