intivelythatit

    hefllintthehall

    gdalenepedheaid:”h,thitbepirtirtantpurhaeiaputitdniti”

    helkedfrthetherfthegigglingalittle,buthereyeheaffetedgaietyfherwrd

    lydiaeyebrutgandh”

    gdaleneaid,tillutjutpeep”

    heunrlledthepieatinhetaredatthethinginherhand

    lydiatppedandhildatbthentared

    gdaleneaidinapuzzledvie:”itafaleutahebutbutwhy”

    hildaaiddubtfully:”diguiebut”

    lydiafinihedtheentenpirthaaveryfineutahefhiwn”

    gdaleneadutahe”

    ii

    thedraheinginthrughthegardendr

    heaid:”ilynlaveverhathewillbeenread”

    pilaraid,herbreathingfat:”ihavegtnthingnthingatallitadenyyearaggrandfatherleftneytther,butbeebutgeba”

    tephenaid:”thateeratherhardline”

    pilaraid:”ifthatldnhadlived,headeantherneytaltfneyperhapintiheealltheney”

    tephenaid,ling:”thathavebeenveryfaireither,”

    ”heebet,thatiall”

    tephenaid:”agreedyhildyuareareallittleglddigger”

    pilaraidberly:”theentheytdelve”

    tephenaidlretruethaniliketthinkbutitintquitetruealfredlee,frintane,anbeingthrughlytryingandeating”

    pilarhinup

    ”alfred,”heaid,”iratherafl”

    tephenlaughed

    thenheaid:”lkafteryu,yuknw”

    pilaraiddinlately:”ituing,that”

    tephenaidlafraiditetuthafria”

    piladded

    tephenaid:”thereunthere,andpaetherehardareyugdatwrk,pilar”

    pilaraiddubtfully:”idntknw”

    heaid:”yudratheritnabalnyandeatulyfatandhavethreedublehin”

    pilarlaughedandtephenaid:”thatbetterivedeyulaugh”

    pilaraid:”ithughtihuldlaughthiaiverygay,thatneeatbuingraiinandthereiapluuddingallinfla,andthingthatialledayulelg”

    tephenaid:”ah,butyuthaveaeinhereyeterdayithertrer”

    heledherintallrittlebiggerthanaupbard

    ”lk,pilar,beandbefraker,andpreervedfruitandrangeanddateandnutandhere”

    ”h”pilarlapedherhand”theyarepretty,theegldandilverball”

    ”theenallglitteringhfrttputnthedinnertableandhereareballnfeverylurallreadytblwup”

    ”h”pilareyehne”hanindidlveballn”

    tephenaid:”babyhere,hwillyuhave”

    pilaraid:”iwillhavearedne”

    theyeletedtheirballnandbleheirheekditendedpilartppedbllaugh,andherballndwnagain

    heaid:”yulkfunnyblhyurheekpuffedut”

    herlaughrangutthenhefellt,bl,pattingtheptandfr

    pilaraid:”utinthehallthererer”

    theyealngthehallheregardedthendulgently

    ”yuplaylejeudenfantitipretty,that”

    pilaraidbreathlely:”neitheredneitibiggerthanhihbiggerifkitutideitupintheky”

    ”letendthepandephen

    ”h,ye,thatiagdidea”

    pilarrantthegardendr,tephenfllebehind,tilllkingindulgent

    ”iney,”annunedpilar

    hetdntipte,hldingthetringftheballnittuggedgentlyaapufffepilarletganditflatedalng,takenbythebreeze

    tephenlaughed

    ”yutnttellyurwih”

    ”n”

    ”beaueitdentetruengingtwih”

    hereleaedhiballnbuthelukyitflatedidenahllybuhandepiredhabang

    pilarrantit

    heannunedtragially:”itigne”

    then,ahetirredthelittlelihe,t,hadhadaballn,nlyhiwaapinkne”

    pirtgaveaharpelatinpilartuedinquiringly

    pirtaid:”itinthingitabbedntubbedthete”

    hethehue

    heaid:”nyadeielle,haiteyeanditearitiindeedregrettablethattheengliharefndfpenwindw”

    lydiaydear,everythinghabeenettledquiteatifatrilyalfredein”

    theyelathewalkinggrave

    iii

    lunhwaver

    athey,alfredaidtpilar:”eintrhereithingittalkverhyu”

    heledherathethernlyherainedinthehalllkingthughtfullyattheledtudydr

    he

    pirtaid:”ye,treilian,iit”