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Chapter 26
“Yeneednaetellme,”shesaidatlast—“ye’regentry.”
“Well,”saidAlan,softenedalittle(Ibelieveagainsthiswill)bythisartlesscomment,“andsupposewewere?Dideveryouhearthatgentriceputmoneyinfolk’spockets?”
Shesighedatthis,asifshewereherselfsomedisinheritedgreatlady.“No,”saysshe,“that’strueindeed.”
IwasallthiswhilechafingatthepartIplayed,andsittingtongue-tiedbetweenshameandmerriment;butsomehowatthisIcouldholdinnolonger,andbadeAlanletmebe,forIwasbetteralready.Myvoicestuckinmythroat,forIeverhatedtotakepartinlies;butmyveryembarrassmenthelpedontheplot,forthelassnodoubtsetdownmyhuskyvoicetosicknessandfatigue.
“Hashenaefriends?”saidshe,inatearfulvoice.
“Thathasheso!”criedAlan,“ifwecouldbutwintothem!—friendsandrichfriends,bedstoliein,foodtoeat,doctorstoseetohim—andherehemusttrampinthedubsandsleepintheheatherlikeabeggarman.”
“Andwhythat?”saysthelass.
“Mydear,”saidAlan,“Icannaeverysafelysay;butI’lltellyewhatI’lldoinstead,”sayshe,“I’llwhistleyeabittune.”Andwiththatheleanedprettyfaroverthetable,andinamerebreathofawhistle,butwithawonderfulprettysentiment,gaveherafewbarsof“Charlieismydarling.”
“Wheesht,”saysshe,andlookedoverhershouldertothedoor.
“That’sit,”saidAlan.
“Andhimsoyoung!”criesthelass.
