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ful and pronounced attire, entered, and seeing Donald exclaimed: "Oh, papa, I did not know that you were busy with a client. Do excuse me." Then, observing the clerical attire of the "client," she came forward, and extending her hand to Donald, exclaimed with a coy, insinuating smile: "I am sure that you must be Mr. Maxwell. I am so glad to see you. I hope I am not interrupting professional confidences." "Not in the least," Donald replied, as he placed a chair for her. "I am very glad to have the pleasure of meeting you, Miss Bascom." "I heard last night that you had arrived, Mr. Maxwell; and I am sure that it is very good of you to come and see papa so soon. I hope to see you at our house before long. You know that we are in the habit of seeing a good deal of the rector, because--you will excuse my frankness--because there are so few people of culture and refinement in this town to make it pleasant for him." "I am sure that you are very kind," Donald replied. Miss Bascom had adjusted her tortoise-shell lorgnette, and was surveying Donald from head to foot. "Is your wife with you?" she inquired, as one who would say: "Tell me no lies!" "No, I am not married." At once she was one radiant smile of welcome: "Papa, we must do all we can to make Mr. Maxwell feel at home at Willow Bluff--so that he will not get lonesome and desert us," she added genially. "You're very kind." "You must come and dine with us very soon and see our place for yourself. You are staying with Mrs. Burke, I understand." "Yes." "How does she impress you?" "I hardly know her well enough to form any definite opinion of her, though she has been kindness itself to me." "Yes, she has a sharp tongue, but a kind heart; and she does a great deal of good in the village; but, poor soul! she has no sense of humor--none whatever. Then of course she is not in society, you know. You will find, Mr. Maxwell, that social lines are very carefully drawn in this town; there are so many grades, and one has to be careful, you know." "Is it so! How many people are there in the town?" "Possibly eight or nine hundred." "And how many of them are 'in society'?" "Oh, I should imagine not more than twenty or thirty." "They must be very select." "Oh, we are; quite so." "Don't you ever get tired of seeing the same twenty or thirty all the time? I'm afraid I am sufficiently vulgar to like a change, once in a while--somebody rea
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