"
"What has that wretched girl been doing now?"
"Oh, don't you know? The yacht had to be overhauled, so they went to
Florence instead, and have been wandering about in all the resorts of
rather shady people, where Lisette can cut a figure. Mr. Wakefield
is terribly afraid that even poor Mr. Gould himself is taking to
gambling for want of something to do. There are always reports
coming of Elfie taking up with some count or baron. It was a Russian
prince last time, and then Ali goes down into the very lowest depths,
and can't do anything but smoke. You know that's good for blighted
beings. I cure my plants by putting them into his room
surreptitiously."
"You are a hard-hearted little mortal, Babie. Ah, there's the bell!"
Mrs. Brownlow came in with the two Johns, who had joined her just as
she had finished talking to the poor woman; Jock carried off his
friend to dress, and Babie, after finishing her arrangements and
making the most of every fragment of flower or leaf, repaired with a
selection of delicate sprays, to the room where Esther, having put
her little sister to bed, was dressing for dinner. She was eager to
tell of her alarm at the invasion, and of Captain Evelyn's good
nature when she had expected him to be proud and disagreeable.
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