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<v Speaker 1>This is section thirty two of The Gilded Age. This

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<v Speaker 1>LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Gilded Age,

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<v Speaker 1>A Tale of to Day by Mark Twain and Ceed Warner,

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<v Speaker 1>Chapter thirty two. Washington's delight in his beautiful sister was measureless.

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<v Speaker 1>He said that she had always been the queenliest creature

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<v Speaker 1>in the land, but that she was only commonplace before

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<v Speaker 1>compared to what she was now. So extraordinary was the

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<v Speaker 1>improvement wrought by rich, fashionable attire. But your criticisms are

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<v Speaker 1>too full of brotherly partiality to be depended on Washington.

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<v Speaker 1>Other people will judge differently. Indeed they won't. You'll see

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<v Speaker 1>there will never be a woman in Washington that can

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<v Speaker 1>compare with you. You'll be famous within a fortnight, Laura.

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<v Speaker 1>Everybody will want to know you. You wait, you'll see.

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<v Speaker 1>Laura wished in her heart that the prophecy might come true,

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<v Speaker 1>and privately she even believed it might, for she had

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<v Speaker 1>brought all the women whom she had seen since she

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<v Speaker 1>left home under sharp inspection, and the result had not

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<v Speaker 1>been unsatisfactory to her. During a week or two, Washington

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<v Speaker 1>drove about the city every day with her and familiarized

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<v Speaker 1>her with all of its salient features. She was beginning

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<v Speaker 1>to feel very much at home with the town itself,

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<v Speaker 1>and she was also fast acquiring ease with the distinguished

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<v Speaker 1>people she met at the Dilworthy table, and losing what

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<v Speaker 1>little of country timidity she had brought with her from Hawkeye.

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<v Speaker 1>She noticed with secret pleasure the little start of admiration

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<v Speaker 1>that always manifested itself in the faces of the guests

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<v Speaker 1>when she entered the drawing room, arrayed in evening costume.

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<v Speaker 1>She took comforting note of the fact that these guests

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<v Speaker 1>directed a very liberal share of their conversation toward her.

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<v Speaker 1>She observed with surprise that famous statesmen and soldiers did

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<v Speaker 1>not talk like gods as a general thing, but said

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<v Speaker 1>rather commonplace things for the most part, and she was

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<v Speaker 1>filled with gratification to discover that she, on the contrary,

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<v Speaker 1>was making a good many shrewd speeches, and now and

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<v Speaker 1>then a really brilliant one, and furthermore, that they were

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<v Speaker 1>beginning to be repeated in social circles about the town.

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<v Speaker 1>Congress began as sittings, and every day or two Washington

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<v Speaker 1>escorted her to the galleries set apart for lady members

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<v Speaker 1>of the households of senators and representatives. Here was a

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<v Speaker 1>larger field and a wider competition. But still she saw

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<v Speaker 1>that many eyes were uplifted towards her face, and that

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<v Speaker 1>first one person and then another called a neighbour's attention

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<v Speaker 1>to her. She was not too dull to perceive that

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<v Speaker 1>the speeches of some of the younger statesmen were delivered

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<v Speaker 1>about as much and perhaps more, at her than to

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<v Speaker 1>the presiding officer. And she was not sorry to see

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<v Speaker 1>that the dapper young senator from Iowa came at once

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<v Speaker 1>and stood in the open space before the President's desk

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<v Speaker 1>to exhibit his feet as soon as she entered the gallery,

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<v Speaker 1>whereas she had early learned from common report surport that

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<v Speaker 1>his usual custom was to prop them on his desk

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<v Speaker 1>and enjoy them himself, with a selfish disregard of other

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<v Speaker 1>people's longings. Invitations began to flow in upon her, and

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<v Speaker 1>soon she was fairly in society. The season was now

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<v Speaker 1>in full bloom, and the first select reception was at hand,

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<v Speaker 1>that is to say, a reception confined to invited guests.

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<v Speaker 1>Senator Dilworthy had become well convinced by this time that

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<v Speaker 1>his judgment of the country bred Missouri girl had not

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<v Speaker 1>deceived him. It was plain that she was going to

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<v Speaker 1>be a peerless missionary in the field of labor he

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<v Speaker 1>designed her for, and therefore it would be perfectly safe

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<v Speaker 1>and likewise judicious to send her forth well panoplied for

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<v Speaker 1>her work. So he had added new and still richer

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<v Speaker 1>costumes to her wardrobe, and assisted their attractions with costly

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<v Speaker 1>jewelry loans on the future land sale. This first select

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<v Speaker 1>reception took place at a cabinet minister, or rather a

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<v Speaker 1>cabinet secretary's mansion. When Laura and the Senator arrived about

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<v Speaker 1>half past nine or ten in the evening, the place

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<v Speaker 1>was already pretty well crowded, and the white gloved negro

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<v Speaker 1>servant at the door was still receiving streams of guests.

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<v Speaker 1>The drawing rooms were brilliant with gas light and as

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<v Speaker 1>hot as ovens. The host and hostess stood just within

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<v Speaker 1>the door of entrance. Laura was presented, and then she

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<v Speaker 1>passed on into the mailstroam of bejeweled and richly attired,

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<v Speaker 1>low necked ladies and white kid gloved and steel pen

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<v Speaker 1>coated gentlemen. And wherever she moved she was followed by

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<v Speaker 1>a buzz of admiration that was grateful to all her senses,

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<v Speaker 1>so grateful indeed, that her white face was tinged and

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<v Speaker 1>its beauty heightened by a perceptible suffusion of color. She

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<v Speaker 1>caught such remarks as who is she superb woman? That

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<v Speaker 1>is a new beauty from the west, et cetera, et cetera.

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<v Speaker 1>Whenever she halted, she was presently surrounded by ministers, generals, congressmen,

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<v Speaker 1>and all manner of aristocratic people. Introductions followed, and then

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<v Speaker 1>the usual original question, how do you like Washington, Miss Hawkins,

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<v Speaker 1>supplemented by that other usual original question, is this your

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<v Speaker 1>first visit? These two exciting topics being exhausted, conversation generally

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<v Speaker 1>drifted into calmer channels, only to be interrupted at frequent

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<v Speaker 1>intervals by new introductions and new inquiries as to how

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<v Speaker 1>Laura liked the capital and whether it was her first

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<v Speaker 1>visit or not. And thus, for an hour or more,

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<v Speaker 1>the Duchess moved through the crush in a rapture of happiness.

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<v Speaker 1>For her doubts were dead and gone. Now she knew

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<v Speaker 1>she could conquer here. A familiar face appeared in the

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<v Speaker 1>midst of the multitude, and Harry Brierly fought his difficult

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<v Speaker 1>way to her side, his eyes shouting their gratifications, so

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<v Speaker 1>to speak. Oh this is happiness. Tell me, my dear

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<v Speaker 1>miss Hawkins, sh I know what you are going to ask.

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<v Speaker 1>I do like Washington. I like it very much. No,

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<v Speaker 1>but I was going to ask. Yes, I am coming

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<v Speaker 1>to it, coming to it as fast as I can.

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<v Speaker 1>It is my first visit. I think you should know

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<v Speaker 1>that yourself. And straightway a wave of the crowd swept

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<v Speaker 1>her beyond his reach. Now what can the girl mean?

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<v Speaker 1>Of course she likes Washington. I'm not such a dummy

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<v Speaker 1>as to have to ask her that. And as to

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<v Speaker 1>its being her first visit, why I bang it? She

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<v Speaker 1>knows that I knew it was. Does she think I

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<v Speaker 1>have turned idiot? Curious girl? Anyway? But how they do

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<v Speaker 1>swarm about her. She is the reigning bell of Washington.

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<v Speaker 1>After this night, she'll know five hundred of the heaviest

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<v Speaker 1>guns in the town before this night's nonsense is over.

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<v Speaker 1>And this isn't even the beginning. Just as I used

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<v Speaker 1>to say, she'll be a card in the matter of Yes, sir,

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<v Speaker 1>she shall turn the men's heads, and I'll turn the women's.

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<v Speaker 1>What a team that will be in politics? Here. I

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<v Speaker 1>wouldn't take a quarter of a million for what I

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<v Speaker 1>can do in this present session. No, indeed, I wouldn't

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<v Speaker 1>now here. I don't altogether like this. That insignificant secretary

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<v Speaker 1>of legation is why she's smiling on him as if

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<v Speaker 1>he and now on the admiral. Now she's illuminating that

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<v Speaker 1>stuffy congressman from Massachusetts, vulgar, ungrammatical shovel maker, greasy knave

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<v Speaker 1>of spades. I don't like this sort of thing. She

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<v Speaker 1>doesn't appear to be much distressed about me. She hasn't

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<v Speaker 1>looked this way once. All right, my bird of paradise,

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<v Speaker 1>If it suits you, go on, But I think I

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<v Speaker 1>know your sex. I'll go to smiling round a little too,

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<v Speaker 1>and see what effect that will have on you. And

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<v Speaker 1>he did smile around a little and got as near

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<v Speaker 1>to her as he could to watch the effect. But

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<v Speaker 1>the scheme was a failure. He could not get her attention.

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<v Speaker 1>She seemed wholly unconscious of him, and so he could

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<v Speaker 1>not flirt with any spirit. He could only talk disjointedly.

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<v Speaker 1>He could not keep his eyes on the charmers he

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<v Speaker 1>talked to. He grew irritable, jealous, and very unhappy. He

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<v Speaker 1>gave up his enterprise, leaned his shoulder against a fluted pilaster,

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<v Speaker 1>and pouted while he kept watch upon Laura's every movement.

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<v Speaker 1>His other shoulder stole the bloom from many a lovely

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<v Speaker 1>cheek that brushed him in the surging crush, but he

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<v Speaker 1>noted it. Not he was too busy cursing himself inwardly

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<v Speaker 1>for being an egotistical imbecile. An hour ago he had

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<v Speaker 1>thought to take this country lass under his protection and

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<v Speaker 1>show her life and enjoy her wonder and delight. And

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<v Speaker 1>here she was immersed in the marvel up to her eyes,

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<v Speaker 1>and just a trifle more at home in it than

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<v Speaker 1>he was himself. And now his angry comments ran on again.

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<v Speaker 1>Now she's sweetening old brother Ballam, and he well, he

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<v Speaker 1>is inviting her to the Congressional prayer meeting, no doubt.

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<v Speaker 1>Better let old Dilworthy alone to see that she doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>overlook that. And now it's splurge of New York, and

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<v Speaker 1>now batters of New Hampshire. And now the Vice President, well,

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<v Speaker 1>I may as well adjourn. I've got enough, But he hadn't.

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<v Speaker 1>He got as far as the door, and then struggled

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<v Speaker 1>back to take one more look, hating himself all the

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<v Speaker 1>while for his weakness. Toward midnight, when supper was announced,

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<v Speaker 1>the crowd thronged to the supper room, where a long

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<v Speaker 1>table was decked out with what seemed a rare repast,

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<v Speaker 1>but which consisted of things better calculated to feast the

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<v Speaker 1>eye than the appetite. The ladies were soon seated in

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<v Speaker 1>files along the wall, and in groups here and there,

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<v Speaker 1>and the colored waiters filled the plates and glasses, and

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<v Speaker 1>the male guests moved hither and thither, conveying them to

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<v Speaker 1>the privileged sex. Harry took an ice and stood up

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<v Speaker 1>by the table with other gentlemen and listened to the

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<v Speaker 1>buzz of conversation. While he ate. From these remarks, he

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<v Speaker 1>learned a good deal about Laura that was news to him.

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<v Speaker 1>For instance, that she was of a distinguished western family,

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<v Speaker 1>that she was highly educated, that she was very rich

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<v Speaker 1>and a great landed heiress. That she was not a

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<v Speaker 1>professor of religion, and yet was a Christian in the

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<v Speaker 1>truest and best sense of the word, for her whole

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<v Speaker 1>heart was devoted to the accomplishment of a great and

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<v Speaker 1>noble enterprise, none other than the sacrificing of her landed

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<v Speaker 1>estates to the uplifting of the down trodden Negro and

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<v Speaker 1>the turning of his erring feet into the way of

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<v Speaker 1>light and righteousness. Harry observed that as soon as one

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<v Speaker 1>listener had absorbed the story, he turned about and delivered

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<v Speaker 1>it to his next neighbor, and the latter individual straightway

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<v Speaker 1>passed it on. And thus he saw it travel the

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<v Speaker 1>round of the gentlemen and overflow rearward among the ladies.

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<v Speaker 1>He could not trace it backward to its fountain head,

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<v Speaker 1>and so he could not tell who it was that

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<v Speaker 1>started it. One thing annoyed Harry a great deal, and

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<v Speaker 1>that was the reflection that he might have been in

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<v Speaker 1>Washington days and days ago and thrown his fascination about

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<v Speaker 1>Laura with permanent effect while she was new and strange

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<v Speaker 1>to the capital, instead of dawdling in Philadelphia to no purpose.

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<v Speaker 1>He feared he had missed a trick. As he expressed it,

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<v Speaker 1>he only found one little opportunity of speaking again with

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<v Speaker 1>Laura before the evening's festivities ended, and then, for the

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<v Speaker 1>first time in years, his airy self complacency failed him.

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<v Speaker 1>His tongue's easy confidence forsook it in a great measure,

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<v Speaker 1>and he was conscious of an unheroic timidity. He was

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<v Speaker 1>glad to get away and find a place where he

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<v Speaker 1>could despise himself in private and try to grow his

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<v Speaker 1>clipped plumes again. When Laura reached home, she was tired

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<v Speaker 1>but exultant, and Senator Dilworthy was pleased and satisfied. He

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<v Speaker 1>called Laura my daughter next morning and gave her some

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<v Speaker 1>pin money, as he termed it, and she sent a

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<v Speaker 1>hundred and fifty dollars of it to her mother, and

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<v Speaker 1>loaned a trifle to Colonel Sellers. Then the Senator had

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<v Speaker 1>a long private conference with Laura and unfolded certain plans

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<v Speaker 1>of his for the good of the country and religion

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<v Speaker 1>and the poor and temperance, and showed her how she

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<v Speaker 1>could assist him in developing these worthy and noble enterprises.

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<v Speaker 1>End of Chapter thirty two.