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Genevieve pressed a paper-wad into Arthur's hand, whispered and giggled some more. And then, to Missy's horror, Arthur took surreptitious but careful aim with the wad. It landed squarely on old Mrs. Lemon's ear, causing a "Blessed be the Lo " to part midway in scandalized astonishment. Missy herself was scandalized. Of course old Mrs.
Her father peered at her through the feathery gloom. "Why, the preacher Reverend MacGill." "Oh, yes." She shook herself mentally. "He's perfectly fasci " she broke off, remembering she was talking to a grown-up. "He's very inspired," she amended. Another pause. Again it was father who spoke first. "Who was the boy who threw the paper-wad?" Involuntarily Missy's hold on his arm loosened.
Genevieve noticed his lapse. She also noticed the reason. She herself was not a whit impressed by Missy's devotions, but she was unduly quiet for several minutes. Then she stealthily tore a bit of leaf from her hymnal the very page on which she and other frail mortals were adjured to throw out life-lines and began to fashion it into a paper-wad.
Then father had seen. That was bad. Doubtless many others had seen old people who didn't understand the circumstances. It was very bad for Arthur's reputation. Poor Arthur! "Threw the paper-wad?" she asked back evasively. "Yes, the red-headed boy. Wasn't it that Summers fellow?" That Summers fellow! Arthur's reputation was already gone! "Wasn't it?" persisted father.
When she stepped out of that confounded carriage last night, you could have knocked me over with a paper-wad. Come, let's go out. Hang the hat! Let them all laugh if they will. It's only a couple of blocks to the hatter's." He bravely put the white hat on his head, and together we marched out of the police-office into the street. We entered the nearest hatter's together.
Anyway, despite physical discomforts, there was a certain deliciousness in the situation, even though she found it difficult to turn the talk into the spiritual trend she had proposed. Finally Arthur himself mentioned the paper-wad episode, laughing at it as though it were a sort of joke. That was her opening. "You shouldn't be so worldly, Arthur," she said in a voice of gentle reproof.
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