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AsterlinggooddaughterwasGertyjustlikeasecondmotherinthehouse，aministeringangeltoowithalittleheartworthitsweightingold。AndwhenhermotherhadthoseragingsplittingheadacheswhowasitrubbedonthementholconeonherforeheadbutGertythoughshedidn’tlikehermothertakingpinchesofsnuffandthatwastheonlysinglethingtheyeverhadwordsabout，takingsnuff。Everyonethoughttheworldofherforhergentleways。ItwasGertywhoturnedoffthegasatthemaineverynightanditwasGertywhotackeduponthewallofthatplacewheresheneverforgoteveryfortnightthechlorateoflimeMrTunneythegrocer’schristmasalmanacthepictureofhalcyondayswhereayounggentlemaninthecostumetheyusedtowearthenwithathreecorneredhatwasofferingabunchofflowerstohisladylovewitholdtimechivalrythroughherlatticewindow。Youcouldseetherewasastorybehindit。Thecoloursweredonesomethinglovely。Shewasinasoftclingingwhiteinastudiedattitudeandthegentlemanwasinchocolateandhelookedathorougharistocrat。

SheoftenlookedatthemdreamilywhenthereforacertainpurposeandfeltherownarmsthatwerewhiteandsoftjustlikeherswiththesleevesbackandthoughtaboutthosetimesbecauseshehadfoundoutinWalker’spronouncingdictionarythatbelongedtograndpapaGiltrapaboutthehalcyondayswhattheymeant。

Thetwinswerenowplayinginthemostapprovedbrotherlyfashion，tillatlastMasterJackywhowasreallyasboldasbrasstherewasnogettingbehindthatdeliberatelykickedtheballashardaseverhecoulddowntowardstheseaweedyrocks。NeedlesstosaypoorTommywasnotslowtovoicehisdismaybutluckilythegentlemaninblackwhowassittingtherebyhimselfcamegallantlytotherescueandinterceptedtheball。OurtwochampionsclaimedtheirplaythingwithlustycriesandtoavoidtroubleCissyCaffreycalledtothegentlemantothrowittoherplease。ThegentlemanaimedtheballonceortwiceandthenthrewitupthestrandtowardsCissyCaffreybutitrolleddowntheslopeandstoppedrightunderGerty’sskirtnearthelittlepoolbytherock。ThetwinsclamouredagainforitandCissytoldhertokickitawayandletthemfightforitsoGertydrewbackherfootbutshewishedtheirstupidballhadn’tcomerollingdowntoherandshegaveakickbutshemissedandEdyandCissylaughed。

Ifyoufailtryagain，EdyBoardmansaid。

Gertysmiledassentandbitherlip。Adelicatepinkcreptintoherprettycheekbutshewasdeterminedtoletthemseesoshejustliftedherskirtalittlebutjustenoughandtookgoodaimandgavetheballajollygoodkickanditwenteversofarandthetwotwinsafteritdowntowardstheshingle。Purejealousyofcourseitwasnothingelsetodrawattentiononaccountofthegentlemanoppositelooking。Shefeltthewarmflush，adangersignalalwayswithGertyMacDowell，surgingandflamingintohercheeks。Tillthentheyhadonlyexchangedglancesofthemostcasualbutnowunderthebrimofhernewhatsheventuredalookathimandthefacethatmethergazethereinthetwilight，wanandstrangelydrawn，seemedtoherthesaddestshehadeverseen。

Throughtheopenwindowofthechurchthefragrantincensewaswaftedandwithitthefragrantnamesofherwhowasconceivedwithoutstainoforiginalsin，spiritualvessel，prayforus，honourablevessel，prayforus，vesselofsingulardevotion，prayforus，mysticalrose。Andcarewornheartswerethereandtoilersfortheirdailybreadandmanywhohaderredandwandered，theireyeswetwithcontritionbutforallthatbrightwithhopeforthereverendfatherHugheshadtoldthemwhatthegreatsaintBernardsaidinhisfamousprayerofMary，themostpiousVirgin’sintercessorypowerthatitwasnotrecordedinanyagethatthosewhoimploredherpowerfulprotectionwereeverabandonedbyher。

Thetwinswerenowplayingagainrightmerrilyforthetroublesofchildhoodarebutasfleetingsummershowers。CissyplayedwithbabyBoardmantillhecrowedwithglee，clappingbabyhandsinair。PeepshecriedbehindthehoodofthepushcarandEdyaskedwherewasCissygoneandthenCissypoppedupherheadandcriedah！and，myword，didn’tthelittlechapenjoythat！Andthenshetoldhimtosaypapa。

Saypapa，baby。Saypapapapapapapa。

Andbabydidhislevelbesttosayitforhewasveryintelligentforelevenmonthseveryonesaidandbigforhisageandthepictureofhealth，aperfectlittlebunchoflove，andhewouldcertainlyturnouttobesomethinggr