WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter eight of Wired Love by Ellachieva Thayer. This LibriVox

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<v Speaker 1>recording is in the public domain. The feast pondering discontentedly

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<v Speaker 1>over the perplexities of life, a habit she had allowed

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<v Speaker 1>herself to indulge in quite frequently. Of late one day,

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<v Speaker 1>not long after the final exit of the once interesting

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<v Speaker 1>but now obnoxious See, Natty suddenly became aware of a

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<v Speaker 1>pair of merry brown eyes belonging to a fine looking

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<v Speaker 1>young gentleman, observing her critically and with apparently no intention

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<v Speaker 1>of discontinuing their scrutiny, at which, in her present state

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<v Speaker 1>of temper, Natty turned very red and very angry. I

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<v Speaker 1>am not on exhibition, she thought, indignantly, and rising majestically,

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<v Speaker 1>went towards him with the curt inquiry, did you wish

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<v Speaker 1>to send a message? Sir? The young gentleman hesitated and

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<v Speaker 1>appeared slightly embarrassed, but did not take his eyes from

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<v Speaker 1>her face. Nevertheless, I merely wished to ask the tariff

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<v Speaker 1>to Washington, he replied at length. Forty cents. Natty answered shortly,

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you, he said, but without moving, and after a moment,

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<v Speaker 1>as if desirous of opening a conversation, he continued, smiling,

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<v Speaker 1>I hardly think I will send a message to day.

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<v Speaker 1>I presume you will not object to being spared the trouble. Natty,

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<v Speaker 1>having been quarreling all day with intangible somethings, was rather

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<v Speaker 1>glad than otherwise to find a real object upon which

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<v Speaker 1>she could vent the unamiability resulting from her surplus discontent.

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<v Speaker 1>The young man's evident desire to talk more than circumstances

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<v Speaker 1>warranted was displeasing to her, as she rejoined very stiffly,

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<v Speaker 1>is a matter of perfect indifference to me, and turned

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<v Speaker 1>away with an amused smile. He looked at the back

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<v Speaker 1>thus presented to his view, opened his lips to speak, hesitated,

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<v Speaker 1>and finally walked away. Natty, looking after him out of

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<v Speaker 1>the corners of her eyes, saw him glance back as

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<v Speaker 1>he opened the door, and had a remorseful feeling that

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<v Speaker 1>perhaps she had been crosser to him than he really deserved,

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<v Speaker 1>for he was certainly very fine looking, but what was

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<v Speaker 1>done could not be undone, and with no expectation of

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<v Speaker 1>ever seeing him again, she dismissed the matter from her mind.

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<v Speaker 1>The best, perhaps the only, really pleasant part of Natty's

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<v Speaker 1>life now was her evenings passed almost invariably with Sin. Indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>Sin seemed to be a magnet around which all gathered quimby,

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<v Speaker 1>although of course Sin herself was not his chief attraction.

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<v Speaker 1>Celeste Fishblade, who determinedly pushed herself into an intimacy, and

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<v Speaker 1>Joe Norton, who, had it not been for the fact

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<v Speaker 1>so loudly proclaimed by himself of his having no sentiment

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<v Speaker 1>in his soul, would have been suspected of being on

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<v Speaker 1>the road to falling in love with Sin. So strangely

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<v Speaker 1>was he attracted to her company. This, of course, was

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<v Speaker 1>impossible for him. It will not do, dear Sin, remarked,

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<v Speaker 1>and Natty related her little adventure with the young gentleman.

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<v Speaker 1>You knew you have been in a dreadful steed of

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<v Speaker 1>mind ever since c intruded his personality. Natty colored a little,

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<v Speaker 1>she replied, discontentedly, Oh, it isn't that, I assure you.

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<v Speaker 1>The truth is I am ambitious, Sin. I suppose I

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<v Speaker 1>forgot it slightly while I was so interested in Sea.

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<v Speaker 1>But I cannot be content with a mere working on

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<v Speaker 1>from day to day in the same old routine and

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<v Speaker 1>nothing more. Syn looked at her scrutinizingly as she asked,

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<v Speaker 1>but in what particular way you are ambitious to be

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<v Speaker 1>rich or what? Oh? Not for money? Natty answered with

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<v Speaker 1>a slight contempt for that necessary and convenient article. I

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<v Speaker 1>am ambitious for fame. I want to be a writer.

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<v Speaker 1>But when I think of the obstacles in my way

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<v Speaker 1>to an opening, even in that direction, I am daunted.

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<v Speaker 1>I have a tax of energy, it is true, but

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<v Speaker 1>I fear it is fitful. It comes and goes, I understand,

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<v Speaker 1>Sin replied with more than wanted seriousness. Your ambition is

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<v Speaker 1>great enough to render you useless and discontented, but you

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<v Speaker 1>need something to stimulate your energy, else it will waste

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<v Speaker 1>itself in idle dreams. Perhaps love may come to be

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<v Speaker 1>their motive power. Perhaps, and her shade crossed her sunny

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<v Speaker 1>face some great disappointment. There was a moment's silence, Natty

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<v Speaker 1>pondering thoughtfully on these words, and then sen continued, But

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<v Speaker 1>in the meantime, since you can at present accomplish nothing,

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<v Speaker 1>why not get all the enjoyment you can out of

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<v Speaker 1>life as it goes, So when the opportunity comes and

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<v Speaker 1>you seese it, you will not have to look back

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<v Speaker 1>on years wasted in vain longings. For the then unattainable.

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<v Speaker 1>That is my philosophy, and I too am ambitious. A

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<v Speaker 1>philosophy is cheery at least, said Natty smiling. But I'm

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<v Speaker 1>afraid it is very hard for ambitious people to take

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<v Speaker 1>life easy. And that is not all of my troubles.

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<v Speaker 1>She continued gaily. I can't get anything good to eat,

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<v Speaker 1>poor child, said Syn with mock seriousness. This ear is

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<v Speaker 1>coming from the sublime to the ridiculous. What is the

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<v Speaker 1>cause of the lamentable fact? Oh, I am so tired

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<v Speaker 1>of both boarding houses and restaurants. In the former they

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<v Speaker 1>never have what one likes and ah such steak, while

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<v Speaker 1>in the latter you have to pick out all the

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<v Speaker 1>cheap dishes or ruin yourself at a meal, Syn laughed.

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<v Speaker 1>I assure you I can appreciate your feelings from sur experience. Yea,

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<v Speaker 1>I myself from positively longing for a nice sirloin steak.

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<v Speaker 1>Then a sudden thought striking her, Nay, I would tell

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<v Speaker 1>you what we will do, Ned, you will have a

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<v Speaker 1>little feast. Feast, repeated Natty, not exactly comprehending. Yes, I

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<v Speaker 1>have a little guest of lo be it said lest

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<v Speaker 1>missus Simonson. Here in being in a terrific bill for

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<v Speaker 1>extra gas. I use it sometimes to cook my dinner

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<v Speaker 1>when I do not feel like going out. And why

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<v Speaker 1>should we not have a feast all to ourselves some day?

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<v Speaker 1>And the sirloin steaks will be forthcoming? And what did

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<v Speaker 1>you say to Charlotte Rousse? In short, we will have

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<v Speaker 1>everything we can think of, and you shall be assistant cook.

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<v Speaker 1>That would be splendid, cried Natty delightedly. Only it will

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<v Speaker 1>have to be some Sunday, as that is my only

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<v Speaker 1>leisure day. You know, all the better for then we

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<v Speaker 1>will be less liable to intrusion, responded sin gaily. So

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<v Speaker 1>make a memorandum to that effect for next week. We

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<v Speaker 1>must not let missus Simonson know, however, on account of

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<v Speaker 1>the guestove and I pay her too much rent. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>I am afraid we shall have a little difficulty about dishes.

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<v Speaker 1>The few I have are not exactly real severed china,

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<v Speaker 1>or even decently conventional. But oh never mind the dishes, interrupted, Natty,

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<v Speaker 1>anything will do? I have myself a cracked tumbler and

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<v Speaker 1>a spoon that would perhaps be useful for something, Agreeing

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<v Speaker 1>therefore to hold dishes and strict contempt the following Sunday

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<v Speaker 1>found the two girls with closed doors in the midst

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<v Speaker 1>of great preparations for a truly bohemian feast, as Sin

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<v Speaker 1>termed it, nat with their crimps tied down in a

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<v Speaker 1>blue handkerchief, and Sin with her sleeves rolled up and

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<v Speaker 1>an old skirt of her dress doing duty his apron.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me see, said Natty, merrily taking account of stock.

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<v Speaker 1>Two pounds of steak, the first cut of the serline.

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<v Speaker 1>I think you, said, waiting, expectant of making glad our

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<v Speaker 1>hearts on the rocking chair, Potatoes in plebeian lowliness under

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<v Speaker 1>the table, tomatoes and two pies on your trunk, Charlotte

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<v Speaker 1>rous delicious, Charlotte roofs where ah on your bonnet box

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<v Speaker 1>in her plate ordinarily used as a card receiver, and sugar, butter,

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<v Speaker 1>et cetera, and et cetera, lying round almost everywhere, under figs,

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<v Speaker 1>oranges and homely but necessary bread. Where are they? I

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<v Speaker 1>see a top of domby and sun. And our dishes

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<v Speaker 1>will not quarreled because there are none of the many

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<v Speaker 1>relations to each other, laughed Sin as she piled the tomatoes.

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<v Speaker 1>I fear goblets will have to take upon themsel of

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<v Speaker 1>the duties of cups, and that a correct tumbler at

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<v Speaker 1>yours must be used for something. I am sorry that

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<v Speaker 1>saucepan is so dilapidated, but it is the best I owne.

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<v Speaker 1>And in that surcepen, we must both boil the potatoes

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<v Speaker 1>and stew the tomatoes. Weren't one cool while the other

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<v Speaker 1>is doing, queried Natalie, hovering lovingly over the steak. I

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<v Speaker 1>think not, sin answered. You won't mind the coffee being

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<v Speaker 1>boiled in a tin can once the repository of preserved peaches,

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<v Speaker 1>will you? Ah? No, replied Natty, emphatically and soaring at

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<v Speaker 1>the steak with a very dull knife without a handle.

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<v Speaker 1>It will be just as good when it's poured out.

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<v Speaker 1>I head a coffee pot once, but I melted the

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<v Speaker 1>nose off and forgot to buy another yesterday. Since said

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<v Speaker 1>putting on the potatoes, you'll call our contrivance a coffee urned.

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<v Speaker 1>It sounds aristocratic, suggested Natty, as she cleared the books

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<v Speaker 1>from the least shaky table and spread it with three

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<v Speaker 1>towels in lieu of a tablecloth. But what shall we

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<v Speaker 1>do for plates to put the pies on? Take those

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<v Speaker 1>two wooden box covers in the closet, promptly, responded Sin.

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<v Speaker 1>It is right, and see here is we're are so

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<v Speaker 1>for the coffee. Pardon me, I'd almost said, commonplace coffee pot.

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<v Speaker 1>But the tomato? What can we pour that in? Suddenly

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<v Speaker 1>exclaimed Natty with great concern. Sin scanned every object in

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<v Speaker 1>the room with dismay. The the washbowl, she insinuated at last,

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<v Speaker 1>determined not to be daunted. Don't you think it rather large?

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<v Speaker 1>To say nothing of its being too suggestive? To Natty? Laughing,

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<v Speaker 1>Sin did not press the point, but shook her head dubiously.

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<v Speaker 1>I have it, cried Natty. There is a fruit dish

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<v Speaker 1>in my room, just the thing, interrupted syn ecstatically. I

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<v Speaker 1>will run and bring it if you will attend with cooking.

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<v Speaker 1>Look out for miss Kling, said Natty, warningly. If she

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<v Speaker 1>catches a glimpse of you making off with my fruit dish,

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<v Speaker 1>she will never rest until she finds out everything. Rely

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<v Speaker 1>on me, as he could see in despatch, said Sin, going,

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<v Speaker 1>if she sees me, I will mention nuts and reasons.

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<v Speaker 1>Merely mention them, you knew. But Miss Cling for once

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<v Speaker 1>was napping, perhaps dreaming of him. Sin called the torpedo.

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<v Speaker 1>Celeste's father as she obtained the dish, reached her own

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<v Speaker 1>door again without being seen by anyone except the Duchess,

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<v Speaker 1>and was congratulating herself on her good luck. And suddenly,

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<v Speaker 1>like an apparition, Quimby stood before her. Sin started murmured

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<v Speaker 1>something about oranges, slipped the soap dish she had also

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<v Speaker 1>confiscated into her pocket, and tried to make the big

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<v Speaker 1>fruit dish appear as small as possible. She might, however,

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<v Speaker 1>have spared herself any uneasiness, but this always, the most

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<v Speaker 1>unobservant of mortals, was too much, ever burdened with some

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<v Speaker 1>affair of his own, to notice even a too quart dish.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh ah, I beg your pardon. I was coming with

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<v Speaker 1>a request to your room, he said eagerly. I would

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<v Speaker 1>it be too much to bring a friend? He knows

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<v Speaker 1>no one here, and I am sure you would flatenize

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<v Speaker 1>at once if I might bring him, you know. Suddenly, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>replied Sin, too anxious to get away to pay much

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<v Speaker 1>attention to his words, particularly as an odor of steak

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<v Speaker 1>reached her nostrils. Thank you, I never knew anyone who

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<v Speaker 1>understood me as well as you, he said, with a

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<v Speaker 1>grateful bow, and without more words, Sinn left him. How

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<v Speaker 1>long you have been gone, Natty remarked, looking up, her

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<v Speaker 1>cheeks very red and her nose embellished with a streak

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<v Speaker 1>of smut. As Sinn entered, do you see any one?

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<v Speaker 1>No one except Quimby has stopped me to ask about

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<v Speaker 1>being a friend to call some evening, Syn replied, displaying

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<v Speaker 1>the fruit and producing the soap dish. Mercy on us,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty said, looking wider aghast. It is rather large, isn't it?

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<v Speaker 1>And what you to bring that soap dish for? NEI

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<v Speaker 1>thought it might come handy, laughed Sin. We will make

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<v Speaker 1>a potato holder of it for the time, to what

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<v Speaker 1>basis as we may come. At last? Why, in a

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<v Speaker 1>tone of surprise, here is the Duchess. And sure enough

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<v Speaker 1>up by the window sat that sagacious animal, winking and

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<v Speaker 1>blinking complacently and evidently determined to be a third in

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<v Speaker 1>the feast. She came in unnoticed under the shadow that

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<v Speaker 1>fruit dish, threw, said Natty teasingly. Syn shook an oyster

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<v Speaker 1>fork at her, threateningly, say another such word, and shall

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<v Speaker 1>have no stick, she said tragically. Instead, a dundrance shall

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<v Speaker 1>be your doom. We will let the Duchess remain as

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<v Speaker 1>a receiver of odds and ends. I suppose her suspicions

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<v Speaker 1>were excited by the side of these articles. A rare cat,

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<v Speaker 1>a learned cat. Now please set the table for I

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<v Speaker 1>feast will soon be prepared. And Sin bent over the

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<v Speaker 1>sizzling steak that emitted a most appetizing odor. Setting that

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<v Speaker 1>table was no such easy matter as might appear. For

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<v Speaker 1>what with the big fruit dish, wooden covers, different sizes

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<v Speaker 1>of plates, and other incongruous articles, considerable management was necessary.

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<v Speaker 1>I shall have to put the sugar on in the bag,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty said, incautiously, backing to view the general effect, and

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<v Speaker 1>so stumbling over the saucepan of potatoes that sat on

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<v Speaker 1>the floor, but luckily doing no damage. Now, well, eccentricity

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<v Speaker 1>is quite the rage, now, you know, responded the philosophical

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<v Speaker 1>sin In. Certainly, a sugarbol so closely resembling a brown

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<v Speaker 1>paper bag as not to be distinguishable from the real thing,

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<v Speaker 1>is quite a rishar shape. But my dear, that where

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<v Speaker 1>am I to set the steak? If you have that

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<v Speaker 1>big fruit dish in center the table, taking up all

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<v Speaker 1>the room, I shall have to put it on the floor. Then,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty answered despairingly. I have tried it in all parts

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<v Speaker 1>of the table. If you set it on the edge,

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<v Speaker 1>she added, hastily, seeing Sin about to do so, you

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<v Speaker 1>will tip the whole thing over. Then we must have

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<v Speaker 1>a sideboard, Sin announced, with a plate of steak in

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<v Speaker 1>one hand and the big fruit dish in the other.

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<v Speaker 1>Put my writing desk on a chair. Please spread a

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<v Speaker 1>towel over it, and there you have it. But what

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<v Speaker 1>are quantity of eatables? We have two pounds of steak,

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<v Speaker 1>ten big potatoes, a two quart dish of tomatoes, two

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<v Speaker 1>large pies, two Charlotte rouses, an urn of coffee, a

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<v Speaker 1>dozen oranges, and a box of figs. Good gracious, think

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<v Speaker 1>of two people eating all that, exclaimed Natty, decidedly dismayed

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<v Speaker 1>at the prospect. It is considerable, Sin confessed, surveying the

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<v Speaker 1>array with a slightly daunted expression. You see, I'm not

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<v Speaker 1>used to buying for the family, and now is afraid

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<v Speaker 1>of getting too little brightening. There isn't more than one

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<v Speaker 1>quart of the tomatoes, and there are three of us,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, the duchess. To be sure I had forgotten her,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty said, recovering her equanimity and glancing at the purring animal,

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<v Speaker 1>who was looking on approvingly and evidently appreciated the difference

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<v Speaker 1>between sirloin and her usual rations around then lid. The

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<v Speaker 1>revels commenced at once, cried Syin, rolling down her sleeves,

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<v Speaker 1>while Natty wiped the smart from her face. But now

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<v Speaker 1>another difficulty presented itself. The chairs were all too low

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<v Speaker 1>to omit of feasting with the anticipated rapture. This was

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<v Speaker 1>soon overcome, however, by piling a few books on the

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<v Speaker 1>highest chair and appropriating the music stool. Now for the feast,

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<v Speaker 1>exclaimed Natty exultantly as they sat down, triumphant, and she

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<v Speaker 1>brandished her very big knife and extremely small fork, while

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<v Speaker 1>Syn poured the coffee from the urn. An undertaking attended

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<v Speaker 1>with some difficulty and requiring caution, and the Duchess looked

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<v Speaker 1>on expectantly, And then the goal almost reached. Upon their

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<v Speaker 1>startled ears, came a dreadful sound sound of a knock

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<v Speaker 1>at the door. Down to the ground went Natty's knife

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<v Speaker 1>and fork, the coffee urn narrowly escaped to similar fate.

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<v Speaker 1>Up went the back of the Duchess, and two dismayed

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<v Speaker 1>bohemians and one impatient cat gazed at each other end

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<v Speaker 1>of Chapter eight,