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<v Speaker 1>Chapter seven of Wired Love by Ella Chieva Theya. This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Good Bye. It

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<v Speaker 1>was a very long face that Natty carried to the

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<v Speaker 1>Hotel Norman that night, so long that Miss Kling at

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<v Speaker 1>once saw that something was amiss, and while curiously wondering

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<v Speaker 1>as to the cause, took a grim satisfaction in the fact.

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<v Speaker 1>And Miss Kling liked not to see cheerful faces. Why

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<v Speaker 1>should others be happy when she had not found her

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<v Speaker 1>mother self. Natty's first act, on gaining her own room

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<v Speaker 1>was to drag forth that carefully preserved pen and ink

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<v Speaker 1>sketch and tear it to atoms, annihilating the chubby Cupid

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<v Speaker 1>with especial care. And now, she thought to herself savagely,

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<v Speaker 1>as she burned up the pieces, I never will be

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<v Speaker 1>interested in people again unless I know all about them.

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<v Speaker 1>Imagination is too dangerous a guide for me. Having thus

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<v Speaker 1>exterminated the illustrated edition of her romance, Natty felt the

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<v Speaker 1>necessity of unburdening her mind, her sorrow not being too

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<v Speaker 1>deep for words, and with that object sought sin, a

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<v Speaker 1>proceeding much disproved of by Miss Kling, who, knowing well

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<v Speaker 1>that weakness of human nature that seeks a friendly bosom

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<v Speaker 1>wherein to repose its sorrows, rightly surmised her lodge's destination

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<v Speaker 1>and design, and decidedly objected to any one. Knowing more

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<v Speaker 1>than she herself did. Natty found her friend at home,

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<v Speaker 1>but to her vexation, not alone with her was Quimby,

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<v Speaker 1>who had called in the untold hope of gleaning tidings

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<v Speaker 1>of the young lady, who had, as he said to himself,

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<v Speaker 1>flawed him. His confusion at the sight of her, remembering

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<v Speaker 1>as he did the somewhat unusual circumstances of the last meeting,

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<v Speaker 1>was indescribable. Indeed, his knees actually knocked together. Natty, however,

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<v Speaker 1>whose latest experience had effaced the effect and almost the

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<v Speaker 1>remember of that former one, bade him good evening without

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<v Speaker 1>the least trace of consciousness or embarrassment, a composure of

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<v Speaker 1>manner that astounded but at the same time burled him

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<v Speaker 1>with admiration, as he did not take his departure, being

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<v Speaker 1>in fact unable to tear himself away. Natty, in her

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<v Speaker 1>anxiety to tell sin all that was in her mind,

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<v Speaker 1>and reflecting that he really was of no consequence, an

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<v Speaker 1>argument not mattering to its object, but one that he

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<v Speaker 1>probably would have been first to endorse had he known it,

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<v Speaker 1>and moreover, that he already knew the prolog disregarded his

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<v Speaker 1>presence and said, the most incomprehensible thing has happened, Sin,

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<v Speaker 1>I cannot realize it even now. Quimby quaked in his

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<v Speaker 1>boots and grew hot all over with the fear that

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<v Speaker 1>she was going to relate their evening's adventure. Could it

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<v Speaker 1>be possible, May I knew that something was the met

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<v Speaker 1>at the moment you entered the room? Said Sin. He

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<v Speaker 1>cannot imagine why you should look as if you were

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<v Speaker 1>giving into the grave digging business. Ah Sin, exclaimed Natty,

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<v Speaker 1>as if the words hurt her. He see call on

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<v Speaker 1>me to day. Quimby gave a bounce and then grew

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<v Speaker 1>limp in all his joints. Is it portable? Personally, questioned

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<v Speaker 1>Sin with great interest and animation. Then glancing at Natty's face,

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<v Speaker 1>her tone changed as she added, he was not what

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<v Speaker 1>you thought, I understand, poor ned. Quimby straightened himself up.

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<v Speaker 1>He fancied he saw a gleam of hope ahead, far

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<v Speaker 1>enough from what I thought, replied Natty with a mixture

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<v Speaker 1>of pathos and disgust. Why did he not remain invisible? Then,

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<v Speaker 1>in a burst of disappointment, Sin, he is simply awful,

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<v Speaker 1>all red hair and grease musk, cheap jewelry and insolent assurance.

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<v Speaker 1>Quimby glanced in the opposite glass and his face brightened

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<v Speaker 1>all over. He felt like a new man. Oh, dear,

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<v Speaker 1>is it as bad as that? Said Syinn, looking dismayed.

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<v Speaker 1>He was so intening on the wire. I can hardly

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<v Speaker 1>believe it. Are you quite sure it was sea? I

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<v Speaker 1>could not realize it myself, but it is a fact. Nevertheless,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty answered sorrowfully, and then related what she termed the

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<v Speaker 1>disgusting details. Sin listened, vexed and sorry for she too

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<v Speaker 1>had become interested in the invisible sea. But Quimby found

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<v Speaker 1>it impossible to restrain his joy at this complete overthrow

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<v Speaker 1>of one whom he had ever considered a formidable rival.

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<v Speaker 1>It's new use to talk about romance in real life,

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<v Speaker 1>said the annoyed Sin, yielding to the conviction that the

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<v Speaker 1>obnoxious visitor really was. See. As Natty concluded, it is

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<v Speaker 1>nice to read about and to enact on the stage,

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<v Speaker 1>but altogether too unreliable. For a solid every day world. Well, dear, consolingly.

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<v Speaker 2>It's better to hear the truth than to have gone

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<v Speaker 2>on blindly talking to so undesirable an acquaintance. For ignorance

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<v Speaker 2>is bliss, tis folly to be wise, write it, Natty,

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<v Speaker 2>with a shrug of her shoulders. But yes, I suppose

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<v Speaker 2>I ought to be glad.

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<v Speaker 1>I know the worst. I beg pardon, But I think

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<v Speaker 1>I hinted it might be as it has proved, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>said Quimby, trying not to look triumphant and failing signally.

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<v Speaker 1>Not particularly pleased at having his superior discernment thus pointed out,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty replied, rather shortly, it was luck and chance anyway,

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<v Speaker 1>and it was my luck to stumble on the most

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<v Speaker 1>disagreeable specimen in the business, that is all. Do you

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<v Speaker 1>suppose he is aware of the impression he produced on you,

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<v Speaker 1>asked Sin. No, indeed, Natty replied scornfully. Is there anything

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<v Speaker 1>so blind as vulgar ignorant self conceit? I have no

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<v Speaker 1>doubt he thinks I was charmed. Then now will you marriage?

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<v Speaker 1>When he wants to talk on the wire again, asked Sin,

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<v Speaker 1>I shall have to make excuses until he takes the hint,

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<v Speaker 1>oh dear, said Natty with a sigh. I believe it

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<v Speaker 1>is impossible to get any comfort out of this world.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh no, it isn't, said Sin in her bright, cheering manner.

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<v Speaker 2>The way he to do is not to allow ourselves

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<v Speaker 2>to flit over what we can't help. I'm almost as

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<v Speaker 2>disappointed as your dear over this total collapse of what opens,

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<v Speaker 2>Sue interestingly. But the curtain has fallen on the ignominious

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<v Speaker 2>last act of our little drama. So farewell, a long

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<v Speaker 2>farewell to our wired romance. As Sin spoke, the somewhat

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<v Speaker 2>unmusical voice of joe Norton was heard in the hall,

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<v Speaker 2>singing an air from a popular belesque, followed by the

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<v Speaker 2>appearance among them of Joey himself. Of course, the whole

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<v Speaker 2>story had to be related for his benefit, and very

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<v Speaker 2>little sympathy did Natty receive from him. Let us teach

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<v Speaker 2>you a lesson, young lady, he said, with mock solemnity, namely,

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<v Speaker 2>attend to your business and let romance alone. As you do,

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<v Speaker 2>said Sin, As I do, he echoed, and consequently be

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<v Speaker 2>appy as I am. I tell you, romance is sentiment.

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<v Speaker 1>And love and all that bosh are at the bottom

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<v Speaker 1>of two thirds of all a misery in the word,

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<v Speaker 1>notwithstanding which sage remark, and the fact of the curtain

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<v Speaker 1>having fallen on the end as since said, for a

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<v Speaker 1>moment yesterday was as if it had never been. When

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<v Speaker 1>Natty entered her office the next morning and was greeted

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<v Speaker 1>with the familiar b M, b M, b M. Where

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<v Speaker 1>is my little girl at b M? To say good

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<v Speaker 1>morning to me? And she made an involuntary movement towards

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<v Speaker 1>the key to respond in the usual way. The remembrance

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<v Speaker 1>of the actual state of things checked her just in time,

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<v Speaker 1>and then, with a rather uncertain and tremulous touch of

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<v Speaker 1>the key, she answered, good morning. Wait, I'm busy. One untruth,

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<v Speaker 1>she thought to herself, as Sea became mute. Not the

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<v Speaker 1>only one. I shall have to tell, I fear before

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<v Speaker 1>I succeed in conveying my exact meaning to the understanding

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<v Speaker 1>of the person, I will pick a quarrel if possible,

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<v Speaker 1>and he persists in talking. Oh, dear, I could have

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<v Speaker 1>endured the red hair, those dreadful teeth had it not

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<v Speaker 1>been for the bear's grease and general vulgarity of the creature. Well,

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<v Speaker 1>it's all over now, and she sighed, from which it

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<v Speaker 1>may be inferred that Joe's admonitions had not been of

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<v Speaker 1>much consolation to her. We do not take the lessons

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<v Speaker 1>our experience teaches us to heart immediately first, where business

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<v Speaker 1>must be overcome. To Natty's great relief, the wire happened

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<v Speaker 1>to be very busy that morning, but whenever it was possible,

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<v Speaker 1>she called her and called in vain immediately after her

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<v Speaker 1>return from dinner. However, having just received and signed for

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<v Speaker 1>a message See the moment she closed her key, said

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<v Speaker 1>where have you been to day? Are you not glad

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<v Speaker 1>to have me back again? Cannot be, I am so

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<v Speaker 1>soon forgotten. Unable to avoid answering, Natty responded on the

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<v Speaker 1>wrong side of truth again, have been busy? Wait? Please

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<v Speaker 1>her customer here, I cannot help saying, confound the luck

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<v Speaker 1>See responded savagely, to which Anathama nat He turned up

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<v Speaker 1>her nose scornfully and made no reply. The nervous dread

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<v Speaker 1>of his calling that was upon her all day caused

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<v Speaker 1>her to make more blunders than she had ever done

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<v Speaker 1>in all her telegraphic career. She gave wrong change continually,

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<v Speaker 1>none but her messages incorrectly, and broke so much that

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<v Speaker 1>the operator who sent to her had a headache with

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<v Speaker 1>ill humor, usually very quick at deciphering the illegible scrawls

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<v Speaker 1>often handed her for transmission, she to day was frowned

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<v Speaker 1>at for her stupidity in making them out, and one

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<v Speaker 1>lady to whom a message was sent through Poor Natty's office,

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<v Speaker 1>was much exercised on receiving it to learn over an

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<v Speaker 1>unknown gentleman's signature that he would be with her at midnight.

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<v Speaker 1>He really was her husband, but Natty had transmitted the

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<v Speaker 1>name the writing looked most like, which was one very

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<v Speaker 1>remote from the real one. All these mistakes she laid

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<v Speaker 1>at sea's door and grew more disgusted with him accordingly,

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<v Speaker 1>especially when she counted her cash and found herself a

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<v Speaker 1>dollar short. She managed, however, by frequent excuses to get

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<v Speaker 1>along without holding any conversation with him, until the latter

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<v Speaker 1>part of the afternoon, when the wire not being in

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<v Speaker 1>use and business slacking up. He called persistently, savagely, and entreatingly,

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<v Speaker 1>all of which phases can be expressed in dots and dashes,

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<v Speaker 1>interspersing the call with such expressions as please answer en,

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<v Speaker 1>where are you n why will you treat us a

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<v Speaker 1>poor fellow who thinks so much of you, I should

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<v Speaker 1>think he might take a hint. Must I tell him

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<v Speaker 1>in plain words that a personal inspection leads me to

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<v Speaker 1>decline the honor of farther acquaintance when too, he particularly

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<v Speaker 1>requested me not to mention his visit over the wire,

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<v Speaker 1>thought Natty. And then as he continued to call, she

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<v Speaker 1>arose impatiently and answered shortly, b M, you naughty little girl.

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<v Speaker 1>Immediately responded, C Where have you been all day? Is

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<v Speaker 1>it thus you treat me on my return? And I

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<v Speaker 1>expected you would be glad to see me again. I

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<v Speaker 1>have been busy, Natty replied, briefly, with a repetition for platitude,

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<v Speaker 1>and cringing at the same time as the first of

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<v Speaker 1>his remark as she recalled his toute ensemble. So you

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<v Speaker 1>have said every time I have called, she answered, apparently

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<v Speaker 1>entirely unconscious of the possible reason. What is the cause?

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<v Speaker 1>You never used to be busy always? You know how

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<v Speaker 1>different he is on the wire from what he is

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<v Speaker 1>in reality, thought Natty, with a return of her first disappointment,

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<v Speaker 1>and how hard it is to merge the two in one.

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<v Speaker 1>But she answered, there is the first time for everything. Besides,

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<v Speaker 1>I have not felt like talking to day. Not with me,

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<v Speaker 1>queried se No, replied Natty briefly, and to the point,

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<v Speaker 1>see held his key open a moment. I do not

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<v Speaker 1>understand it, he said at last. It isn't possible that

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<v Speaker 1>I have done anything to offend you. Only offend me

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<v Speaker 1>with the sight of you, thought Natty, but unwilling to

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<v Speaker 1>be really impolite, replied, certainly not. You are not angry

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<v Speaker 1>about yesterday, are you, pursued se certainly not, repeated Natty,

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<v Speaker 1>adding to herself A faint idea that I did not

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<v Speaker 1>exactly fall in love with you? Is keeping into your

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<v Speaker 1>red head? Is it? If I have done anything? I

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<v Speaker 1>beg you to tell me what for. I am ignorant

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<v Speaker 1>of it, and I assure you I am penitent and

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<v Speaker 1>that I forgive you, continued se Any. Please don't be

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<v Speaker 1>cross with me. Natty saw her opportunity for picking a

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<v Speaker 1>quarrel and seized it. I do not know what you

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<v Speaker 1>mean by my being cross, he said. I am sure

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<v Speaker 1>I was not aware that I was obliged to talk

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<v Speaker 1>to any one unless I felt like it. I am

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<v Speaker 1>not in the mood to day, and I will not

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<v Speaker 1>be forced you have no right to call me cross.

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<v Speaker 1>And when I am in the humor to talk with

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<v Speaker 1>you again, I will let you know very well, se

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<v Speaker 1>replied promptly, undoubtedly angry himself. Now I will wait your pleasure,

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<v Speaker 1>and then was mute. It has not been quite so

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<v Speaker 1>gradual as I intended. But I think I have effectually

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<v Speaker 1>settled the matter, and my mind is relieved, thought Natty.

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<v Speaker 1>Yet she sighed, and her satisfaction was followed by depression,

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<v Speaker 1>for with Sea departed the pleasantest part of her office life,

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<v Speaker 1>a fact she could not disguise in the week that followed.

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<v Speaker 1>When c, true to his word, waited saying nothing, she

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<v Speaker 1>mist can tinually the sympathy, the gay talk, the companionship

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<v Speaker 1>that had made the constantly occurring annoyances endurable, and the

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<v Speaker 1>days that dragged so now seemed short. The office business

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<v Speaker 1>did not fill half her time, and the constant confinement

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<v Speaker 1>began to be irksome to her whose nature demanded activity.

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<v Speaker 1>In consequence, she often grew impatient and answered unnecessary questions

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<v Speaker 1>of customers with a shortness that gave considerable offense. And

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<v Speaker 1>had it not been for Sin who brought her sunny

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<v Speaker 1>presence quite often into the office, heedless of the no

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<v Speaker 1>admittance on the door. The monotony that had now displaced

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<v Speaker 1>the romantic side of telegraphy would have plunged to Natty

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<v Speaker 1>among the shadows almost constantly. Of course, the sudden cessation

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<v Speaker 1>of the intimacy between C and N was a theme

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<v Speaker 1>of much surprise and bantering comments along the line, especially

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<v Speaker 1>from E. M. But these facetious remarks gradually became fewer

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<v Speaker 1>as the wonder subsided. One day, nearly two weeks after

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<v Speaker 1>the collapse, Natty was surprised to hear the old familiar

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<v Speaker 1>B M B M B M x N. Wondering if

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<v Speaker 1>he had grown tired of waiting and was about to

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<v Speaker 1>attempt to renewal of their former friendship, Natty rather impatiently answered,

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<v Speaker 1>but it proved he had a message, an occurrent quite

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<v Speaker 1>infrequent with him. This she sent without unnecessary words. But

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<v Speaker 1>after she had given O K and closed her key,

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<v Speaker 1>he opened hears to say, pleased any one to make up?

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<v Speaker 1>Then I have nothing to make up, Natty replied. O

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<v Speaker 1>K was Sue's response as he again subsided. He snubs easily,

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<v Speaker 1>thought Natty much relieved. The following Saturday night, however, as

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<v Speaker 1>she was taking in from her shaft outside the blanks

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<v Speaker 1>ink and bad pens that excited the ire of irascible customers.

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<v Speaker 1>Preparatory to closing, See once more called, with a devout

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<v Speaker 1>hope that he was not going to be annoying. Natty answered,

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<v Speaker 1>notwithstanding the late coolness between us, which was not my

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<v Speaker 1>fault and for which I cannot account. He began, and

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<v Speaker 1>then someone with a rush message broke in. What is

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<v Speaker 1>he coming at now, I wonder, commenced with a great

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<v Speaker 1>display of words, thought Natty curiously, and then, with a

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<v Speaker 1>little curl of her lip, a sentence out of some book,

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<v Speaker 1>I suppose. But as soon as the wire was quiet,

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<v Speaker 1>she said to See please g a account. I couldn't

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<v Speaker 1>not leave as I am about to do to night

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<v Speaker 1>without saying good bye in remembrance of our former pleasant intercourse, concluded,

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<v Speaker 1>C you mean you are leaving permanently, queried Natty, surprised, Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>this is my last day here Monday, I leave town,

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<v Speaker 1>and so with much regret that anything unpleasant should have

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<v Speaker 1>interrupted our acquaintance. Although what it was, I assure you

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<v Speaker 1>I do not know, since you deain me no explanation

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<v Speaker 1>I will say, not as I would once a revoir.

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<v Speaker 1>But good bye, good bye, answered Natty, begetting for the

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<v Speaker 1>moment everything but see the old sea, the sea who

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<v Speaker 1>had enlivened so many hours, and about whom had dwelt

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<v Speaker 1>that romantic mystery. Good Bye. Believe me, I shall always

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<v Speaker 1>remember the many social talks we have enjoyed. Possibly we

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<v Speaker 1>might enjoy them again, if you desired, She said then,

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<v Speaker 1>as if he gave her a chance for explanation or

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<v Speaker 1>to express such a wish. But Natty, recalling now the

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<v Speaker 1>bear's grease, the musk, cheap jewelry, and their obnoxious possessor,

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<v Speaker 1>answered only good bye. End of Chapter seven