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<v Speaker 1>Chapter thirteen of Wired Love by el Achieva Thare This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The wrong woman,

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<v Speaker 1>somewhat exultant over the new aspect of affairs and unable

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<v Speaker 1>longer to endure the strain of the load of love

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<v Speaker 1>who was carrying about with him, Quimby came to a

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<v Speaker 1>desperate determination there was no other than to confide in

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<v Speaker 1>his room mate and once dreaded rival, and then provided

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<v Speaker 1>he was not thrown out of the window or kicked downstairs,

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<v Speaker 1>and asked his advice about how to render himself clearly

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<v Speaker 1>understood by her, at the same time relating his former

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<v Speaker 1>unfortunate attempt. This program he carried into effect one morning

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<v Speaker 1>as Clem was blacking his boots. Perhaps he had made

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<v Speaker 1>pirate calculations on a blacking brush hitting a man with

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<v Speaker 1>less damage than some larger article. I say, Clem, Quimby began,

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<v Speaker 1>I want to ask good vice. You know I am

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<v Speaker 1>at your service, my dear boy, replied the unsuspecting Clem,

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<v Speaker 1>rubbing away at his boot. Well, I want to know

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<v Speaker 1>the fact is U I am boiling over with love?

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<v Speaker 1>What exclaimed Clem, looking up with an amused smile. You

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<v Speaker 1>are not in love with sin too? Are you with sin? Do?

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<v Speaker 1>These words were balmed to the soul of Quimby and

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<v Speaker 1>gave him courage to answer eagerly. Ah, No use in

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<v Speaker 1>that for me? You know it it is she, miss

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<v Speaker 1>Rogers natty, you know. The blacking brush left Clem's hand,

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<v Speaker 1>but not to fly at the expectant Quimby. It simply

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<v Speaker 1>dropped onto the floor, while Clem gave vent to his

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<v Speaker 1>feelings in a prolonged whistle. This is possible, he said,

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<v Speaker 1>having thus relieved himself of his first astonishment. I might

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<v Speaker 1>have suspected as much if I had stopped to think. Though, Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>U I think I should it plain enough, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>said Quimmy candidly. You see, h I tried to tell

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<v Speaker 1>of it once before you came here, when you were invisible,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, But some way she didn't just understand and bolted,

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<v Speaker 1>you know. So just tell me how to do it.

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<v Speaker 1>That is a good fellow, For do it I must.

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<v Speaker 1>Clem picked up his blacking brush and very deliberately smeared

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<v Speaker 1>the boot he had just polished with another coat of blacking.

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<v Speaker 1>Before answering, how can I tell you? He said? At last,

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<v Speaker 1>you don't suppose proposing as an everyday habit of mine.

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<v Speaker 1>Do my day, boy, I never proposed in my life,

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<v Speaker 1>but you you ought to. I mean you will sometime,

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<v Speaker 1>you know. Just give me a start, you know, pleaded Quimby,

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<v Speaker 1>sitting down on the edge of the bed. Shall I

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<v Speaker 1>call her and propose for you, inquired Clem, somewhat ironically,

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<v Speaker 1>and glancing at the sounder. Noo now now, cried Quimby,

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<v Speaker 1>in great alarm at this proposition. She might think herself,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, in which case the rejection would be sure,

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<v Speaker 1>said Clem. Then, flinging his brush savagely into a corner,

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<v Speaker 1>he added as he went out, you must settle it yourself,

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<v Speaker 1>old fellow. No one can help us in those matters.

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<v Speaker 1>There is no duplex. Quimby was therefore left to his

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<v Speaker 1>own devices, and his own devices brought about a most

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<v Speaker 1>extraordinary result That same evening, Natty, coming over to Sinn's room, and,

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<v Speaker 1>finding how absent, sat down to await her return, which

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<v Speaker 1>Missus Simpson asshorter would be very soon. There was no

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<v Speaker 1>gas lighted, and in the dusk Natty remained, feeling perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>an affinity with the somm shadows of the twilight as

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<v Speaker 1>she sat musing, now wishing see he had left her

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<v Speaker 1>life forever, and he left it with the odors of

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<v Speaker 1>musk and bear's grease about him. And now despising herself

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<v Speaker 1>for the weakness, she found it so hard to overcome.

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<v Speaker 1>She became conscious of a denser shadow in the shadows

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<v Speaker 1>of the open door. Oh oh, A big pardon is it? Sin?

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<v Speaker 1>Asked this shadow in the voice of Quimby. No, Natty replied,

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<v Speaker 1>Sin is out. Uh uh, A big pardon is it you?

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<v Speaker 1>The shadow asked, with accents of delight. Natty acknowledged the

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<v Speaker 1>you and you you are alone. Natty glanced around the room,

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<v Speaker 1>hoping the Duchess had strayed in so she might truthfully

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<v Speaker 1>say no, but she was compelled to reply in the affirmative.

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<v Speaker 1>Glorious opportunity. It must not be wasted. Up, I will explain,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, he exclaimed, excitedly and incoherently. But to Natty's surprise,

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<v Speaker 1>instead of entering, he darted away in such a tremendous

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<v Speaker 1>hurry that he stumbled and fell as he distinctly heard

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<v Speaker 1>his skull bang against his own door. But his last

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<v Speaker 1>words were too ominous, and she was too well acquainted

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<v Speaker 1>with his peculiarities to flatter herself. She was permanently relieved

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<v Speaker 1>of his company. He had perhaps gone to brush his

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<v Speaker 1>hair or take some quieting drops, but she knew he

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<v Speaker 1>had certainly not gone to stay. And not being exactly

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<v Speaker 1>in the humor for his company, Natty resolved to fly ignominiously.

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<v Speaker 1>Afraid of returning to her own room lest she might

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<v Speaker 1>meet him and be taken captive, she quietly retired into

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<v Speaker 1>Sinn's bedroom. In a few moments she heard him stumbling

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<v Speaker 1>over a stool in the parlor, and was just thinking

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<v Speaker 1>that if he should take it into his head to

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<v Speaker 1>remain any length of time, she would be in rather

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<v Speaker 1>a predicament, when her surprise she heard him say, I

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<v Speaker 1>must speak. I hope this time I shall remember what

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<v Speaker 1>I have so often, so often said in the privacy

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<v Speaker 1>of my own apartment to if I might confess it

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<v Speaker 1>to a pillow, a pair of pants, and a coat

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<v Speaker 1>placed in a chair as a poor effigy of you,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, will you will? You don't speak, But let

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<v Speaker 1>me alone hear me, and let the flow of language come.

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<v Speaker 1>He paused, and in the greatest bewilderment, Natty stared at

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<v Speaker 1>the opposite wall, did he, by some powerful intuition, discern

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<v Speaker 1>that she was within hearing distance, or was he, in

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<v Speaker 1>his disappointment, rehearsing to an empty chair. Before Natty could

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<v Speaker 1>decide between these two solutions of his conduct, another voice,

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<v Speaker 1>the voice of Celeste, said, faintly and affectedly, oh, Quimby.

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<v Speaker 1>And then Natty comprehended the situation. After her own retreat,

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<v Speaker 1>Celeste had entered and taken the just vacated chair. It

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<v Speaker 1>was twilight. Celeste wore a black dress like hers, her

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<v Speaker 1>hair was dressed in the same style and was the

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<v Speaker 1>same color. And Quimby had mistaken her for Natty, And

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<v Speaker 1>in his excitement and struggle with that flow of language,

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<v Speaker 1>he did not notice even that it was not Natty's

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<v Speaker 1>voice saying, Oh Quimby. For he continued, you may reject me.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm afraid you will. But I must say it, you

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<v Speaker 1>know I must, or I shall. I shall explode and

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<v Speaker 1>fly into atoms. Here Celeste gave a little scream, but

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<v Speaker 1>he went on determinedly, making the most of his glorious opportunity.

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<v Speaker 1>I am not like other fellows, you know that is

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I have not the bras. If I may

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<v Speaker 1>so express myself, and I am always doing something wrong,

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<v Speaker 1>but I am used to it. Do you know? The

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<v Speaker 1>question is could you get used to it? For I

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<v Speaker 1>have a heart that is, that is honest, and it

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<v Speaker 1>beats all full of love, of love for you know,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean. There was a murmured oh from Celeste as

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<v Speaker 1>Quimby paused to wipe from his brow the perspiration called

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<v Speaker 1>forth by his arduous undertaking. What shall I do? Frantically

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<v Speaker 1>thought the perplexed listener, divided between the ludicrous part of

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<v Speaker 1>the affair and her desire to save him from the

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<v Speaker 1>dilemma into which he was rushing. What can I do? Oh?

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<v Speaker 1>If sin would only come? But sin came not, And

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<v Speaker 1>while Natty paused, irresolute and not knowing what course to take,

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<v Speaker 1>Quimby went on to his fate. I have thought sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>that you liked some other fellow, clem. I mean, Natty

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<v Speaker 1>felt herself blush in the darkness. But I do hope

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<v Speaker 1>not thought has made me boil in secret often. And

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<v Speaker 1>he loves sin, you know. Natty's color left her face

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<v Speaker 1>as quickly as it had come. But oh, and he

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<v Speaker 1>went down on to his knees with a whack that

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<v Speaker 1>made the vases on the mantle jingle. Let me tell

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<v Speaker 1>you what I tried twice before to say, what is

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<v Speaker 1>always in my thoughts. Uh? Are you tore you the

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<v Speaker 1>ground you walk on?

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<v Speaker 2>And have ever since I first saw your nose? I

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<v Speaker 2>beg pardon, but I fell in love with your nose?

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<v Speaker 2>And will you can you tell me that you don't

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<v Speaker 2>love any other fellow Clem I mean, and share my

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<v Speaker 2>little property and be be missus Quimby, you know.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh really, Ah, such a trying moment. But dear dear Quimby,

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<v Speaker 1>I never cared for Clym, never ownly for you, and

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<v Speaker 1>I am yours. With these words, Celeste precipitated herself into

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<v Speaker 1>his arms, and the next moment Natty heard a crash

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<v Speaker 1>as they both fell on the floor. The sudden shock

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<v Speaker 1>of recognition that then burst upon him weakened him to

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<v Speaker 1>such an extent that he could not support himself, much

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<v Speaker 1>less her, so down they went. He must know who

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<v Speaker 1>it is, now, thought Natty with a sigh of relief.

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<v Speaker 1>And meanwhile, Sir Leicester had picked herself up, but Quimby

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<v Speaker 1>still remained flat on the floor, bracing himself up by

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<v Speaker 1>his hands on either side and staring at her motionless.

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<v Speaker 1>Fortunately it was too dark for her to see the

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<v Speaker 1>expression of his face. Did you hurt yourself? Asked Celeste

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<v Speaker 1>at length, Let me help you up. We are to

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<v Speaker 1>help each other, now, you know. Quimby groaned, Oh, misery,

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<v Speaker 1>he gasped. This my destiny is this? My destiny is

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<v Speaker 1>too much for me, Oh, the evil deeds of darkness.

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<v Speaker 1>Listen to me. I implore you. It is all a mistake.

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<v Speaker 1>I thought, of course, it was a mistake. He did

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<v Speaker 1>not suppose. I thought you fell purposely, did you, dear? Quickly,

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<v Speaker 1>interrupted Celeste, blindly a wilfully misunderstanding. Who shall say, wit?

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<v Speaker 1>But please get up? Sin may come at this Quimby

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<v Speaker 1>scrambled to his feet with startling suddenness, and exclaiming, hastily,

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<v Speaker 1>I will, I will write and tell you all all.

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<v Speaker 1>I have an engagement now with a friend just around

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<v Speaker 1>the corner. He rushed from the room and would have flown,

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<v Speaker 1>but the pertinacious Celeste had followed, and just as he

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<v Speaker 1>reached the outside hall, regardless of the publicity, flung herself

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<v Speaker 1>around his neck and would have flown. But the pertinacious

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<v Speaker 1>Celeste had followed, and just as he reached the outside hall,

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<v Speaker 1>regardless of the publicity, to lund herself around his neck,

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<v Speaker 1>this time without bringing him to the ground. It is

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<v Speaker 1>not necessary to write, she cried, pray, do not take

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<v Speaker 1>such a trifle so much to heart. Remember I am yours.

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<v Speaker 1>And another voice from the stairs just above the pair

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<v Speaker 1>interrupted her. It was the voice of fish Blake Pear,

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<v Speaker 1>and it said, huggin marryer. Oh, I will, wailed the

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<v Speaker 1>now alarmed Quimby, as Celeste, blushingly withdrew from her embrace

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<v Speaker 1>of him, I will see you tomorrow if if I live,

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<v Speaker 1>and striking his forehead with his hand, he burst away,

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<v Speaker 1>bounded frantically down the stairs, and fled ejaculating. I know it.

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<v Speaker 1>I had a presentiment for my youth. Excuse his eccentricity,

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<v Speaker 1>par Celeste said. He loves me so much, poor fellow,

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<v Speaker 1>and get enough of that, he growled with contempt. And

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<v Speaker 1>he has a nice little property, added Celeste, as they

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<v Speaker 1>went upstairs. But when he is the thing, fish blake

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<v Speaker 1>Pere said, with undisguised plainness. Natty emerged from her retreat

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<v Speaker 1>on the hasty exit of Quimby and Celeste, so full

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<v Speaker 1>of regret for the flight that had proved so disastrous

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<v Speaker 1>to him that the ludicrous part of the scene just

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<v Speaker 1>enacted was forgotten. Poor Quimby, she thought remorsefully, what a

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<v Speaker 1>dreadful fix he is in. I hope he'll get out

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<v Speaker 1>of it, and I am so sorry for my share

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<v Speaker 1>in it. How strange it would be if he should,

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<v Speaker 1>as he once said, marry the wrong woman after all.

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<v Speaker 1>End of Chapter thirteen,