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danced up to Mr Farrell, who sat reading by the library fire. "I'm back again, Uncle Bernard," she cried; "I've had a beautiful time! I don't think I ever enjoyed myself so much! I'm bubbling over with gratitude. I've spent heaps of money! You said I might, and I've taken you at your word; and oh, I have got such lovely things in exchange!" Mr Farrell looked at her grimly, but made no reply. His eyes turned towards his other niece, who stood silently in the background. "And you," he queried, "have you been equally fortunate?" Ruth's face clouded. "I got what I needed," she said; "I have a headache. I'm going upstairs to rest." CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. MOLLIE'S REVENGE. Three weeks had passed by. May had begun--an old-fashioned, well- conducted May--which was really like a foretaste of summer, instead of the shivery disappointment which so often condemns us to fire and furs. Jack's ankle was still troublesome, and though he could limp a few steps with the aid of a stick, his outdoor exercises were for the most part restricted to peregrinations in the old bath-chair. According to his account the period had been one of much tribulation, when patience and forbearance had been tried to their limits by the unnatural conduct of Miss Mollie Farrell. Instead of behaving like the proverbial ministering angel, Mollie proved uncertain, coy, and hard to please, and so full of mischievous pranks that Jack declared that his hair was turning white, though, if the truth be told, he looked remarkably bright and happy. One morning it happened that a chance remark of Jack's offended Miss Mollie's dignity, and she vowed that she would be revenged. It seemed, however, that she had forgotten her displeasure for when Ruth and Victor went off to the village after lunch, she offered herself for the post of chairman, and wheeled the invalid to his favourite position beneath a flowering chestnut in front of the house. The ankle was comfortable, and Jack, having lunched well, felt at peace with mankind and womankind into the bargain, and quite inclined to enjoy a pleasant talk. No sooner was he settled, however, than Miss Mollie drew a book from her pocket, and sitting down on the grass at a few yards' distance, deliberately turned her back upon him and began to read. Jack watched these proceedings in silence, recognising both that he was being punished for having annoyed his companion in the morning, and also that
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