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Oh, yes, I know
what you're going to say; you are perfectly right,
but they are both so deliciously funny with their
patriotism.--Are you going in already? It is so
nice out here!"
"I think I will go in now. Is that my scarf?
Thank you."
He had picked it up, and now stood looking at
her with wide eyes as blue and innocent as forget-me-nots
in a brook.
"I know you are offended with me," he said
penitently, "for fooling that painted-up wax doll;
but what can a fellow do?"
"Since you ask me, I do think it an ungenerous
and--well--cowardly thing to hold one's intellectual
inferiors up to ridicule in that way; it is
like laughing at a cripple, or------"
He caught his breath suddenly, painfully; and
shrank back, glancing at his lame foot and mutilated
hand. In another instant he recovered his
self-possession and burst out laughing.
"That's hardly a fair comparison, signora; we
cripples don't flaunt our deformities in people's
faces as she does her stupidity. At least give us
credit for recognizing that crooked backs are no
pleasanter than crooked ways.


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