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Chapter 2
”
Shethrewbackherhead;shehadclearly,bythistime,andveryhonestly,adoptedanattitude.“Oh,neverknownhim—Idon’tpretendthat!”
Iwasupsetagain.“Thenyouhaveknownhim—?”
“Yesindeed,miss,thankGod!”
OnreflectionIacceptedthis.“Youmeanthataboywhoneveris—?”
“Isnoboyforme!”
Iheldhertighter.“Youlikethemwiththespirittobenaughty?”Then,keepingpacewithheranswer,“SodoI!”Ieagerlybroughtout.“Butnottothedegreetocontaminate—”
“Tocontaminate?”—mybigwordleftherataloss.Iexplainedit.“Tocorrupt.”
Shestared,takingmymeaningin;butitproducedinheranoddlaugh.“Areyouafraidhe’llcorruptyou?”Sheputthequestionwithsuchafineboldhumorthat,withalaugh,alittlesillydoubtless,tomatchherown,Igavewayforthetimetotheapprehensionofridicule.
Butthenextday,asthehourformydriveapproached,Icroppedupinanotherplace.“Whatwastheladywhowasherebefore?”
“Thelastgoverness?Shewasalsoyoungandpretty—almostasyoungandalmostaspretty,miss,evenasyou.”
“Ah,then,Ihopeheryouthandherbeautyhelpedher!”Irecollectthrowingoff.“Heseemstolikeusyoungandpretty!”
“Oh,hedid,”Mrs.Groseassented:“itwasthewayhelikedeveryone!”Shehadnosoonerspokenindeedthanshecaughtherselfup.“Imeanthat’shisway—themaster’s.”
Iwasstruck.“Butofwhomdidyouspeakfirst?”
Shelookedblank,butshecolored.“Why,ofhim.
