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Chapter 12
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Myluciditymusthaveseemedawful,butthecharmingcreatureswhowerevictimsofit,passingandrepassingintheirinterlockedsweetness,gavemycolleaguesomethingtoholdonby;andIfelthowtightsheheldas,withoutstirringinthebreathofmypassion,shecoveredthemstillwithhereyes.“Ofwhatotherthingshaveyougothold?”
“Why,oftheverythingsthathavedelighted,fascinated,andyet,atbottom,asInowsostrangelysee,mystifiedandtroubledme.Theirmorethanearthlybeauty,theirabsolutelyunnaturalgoodness.It’sagame,”Iwenton;“it’sapolicyandafraud!”
“Onthepartoflittledarlings—?”
“Asyetmerelovelybabies?Yes,madasthatseems!”Theveryactofbringingitoutreallyhelpedmetotraceit—followitallupandpieceitalltogether.“Theyhaven’tbeengood—they’veonlybeenabsent.Ithasbeeneasytolivewiththem,becausethey’resimplyleadingalifeoftheirown.They’renotmine—they’renotours.They’rehisandthey’rehers!”
“Quint’sandthatwoman’s?”
“Quint’sandthatwoman’s.Theywanttogettothem.”
Oh,how,atthis,poorMrs.Groseappearedtostudythem!“Butforwhat?”
“Fortheloveofalltheevilthat,inthosedreadfuldays,thepairputintothem.Andtoplythemwiththatevilstill,tokeepuptheworkofdemons,iswhatbringstheothersback.”
“Laws!”saidmyfriendunderherbreath.
