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of the fourth day I was confronted with the old familiar inexorableness, taking its stand this time on the impossibility of refusing the company of a cousin whom you have not seen for ten years. 'Oh Charlotte,' I cried, seized her arm convulsively, struggling in the very clutches of Fate, 'what--what a good idea! And what a thousand pities that it can't be managed! You see it is a victoria, and there are only two places because of all the luggage, so that we can't use the little seat, or Gertrud might have sat on that----' 'Gertrud? Send her home. What do you want with Gertrud if I am with you?' I stared dismayed through the dusk at Charlotte's determined face. 'But she--packs,' I said. 'Don't be so helpless. As though two healthy women couldn't wrap up their own hair-brushes.' 'Oh it isn't only hair-brushes,' I went on, still struggling, 'it's everything. You can't think how much I loathe buttoning boots--I know I never would button them, but go about with them undone, and then I'd disgrace you, and I don't want to do that. But that isn't it really either,' I went on hurriedly, for Charlotte had opened her mouth to tell me, I felt certain, that she would button them for me, 'my husband never will let me go anywhere without Gertrud. You see she looked after his mother too, and he thinks awful things would happen if I hadn't got her. I'm very sorry, Charlotte. It is most unfortunate. I wish--I wish I had thought of bringing the omnibus.' 'But is your husband such an absurd tyrant?' asked Charlotte, a robust scorn for my flabby obedience in her voice. 'Oh--tyrant!' I ejaculated, casting up my eyes to the stars, and mentally begging the unconscious innocent's pardon. 'Well, then, we must get a luggage cart and put the things into that.' 'Oh,' I cried, seizing her arm again, my thoughts whirling round in search of a loophole of escape, 'what--what another good idea!' 'And Gertrud can go in the cart too.' 'So she can. What--what a trilogy of good ideas! Have you got any more, Charlotte? What a resourceful woman you are. I believe you like fighting and getting over difficulties.' 'I believe I do,' said Charlotte complacently. I dropped her arm, ceased to struggle, walked on vanquished. Henceforth, if no more interesting difficulties presented themselves, Charlotte was going to spend her time overcoming me. And besides an eloquent Charlotte sitting next to me, there would be a cart rattling along
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