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“Yes, and what do you think the fair Lizzie’s latest fad is? To make her visitors cook their own dinner Poor dinner, and poor Mr. Austin! They do say her last dress cost £50 without the duty, and she just drags it about every evening. Such bad taste in a little seaside place like this! I like Mrs. Burton, and I’m going to call there on my way to-day; but I mean to give her a hint that she should not repeat so much tittle-tattle. I am a little curious to see if they mean to introduce kiss-in-the-ring this afternoon. It would just suit Mrs. Austin, if all tales are true. Well, good-bye, dear, and if you don’t find the anti-pyrine do you good, you might try some red lavender. Au revoir!” and Clare rustled majestically away with a delicious frou-frou from her black satin “foundation,” which augured ill for the reputation of the neighbours when she came to talk over things with the amusing but reprehensible Mrs. Burton.

As soon as her friend was safely out of sight and hearing, Alice jumped up and rushed out to the stable- yard. “Please catch old Corkscrew, and put my saddle on!” she said to the old groom, feeling she must have fresh air and solitude at any price; and in ten minutes she had got into her habit and was cantering along the sea-beach with all the relief of an escaped