Freed from the miasma of that presence, Mary remained motionless
for a long minute, then sighed from her tortured heart. She
turned and went slowly to her chair at the desk, and seated
herself languidly, weakened by the ordeal through which she had
passed.
"A girl I didn't know!" she said, bewilderedly; "perhaps had
never spoken to--who smashed my life like that! Oh, if it wasn't
so awful, it would be--funny! It would be funny!" A gust of
hysterical laughter burst from her. "Why, it is funny!" she
cried, wildly. "It is funny!"
"Mary!" Garson exclaimed sharply. He leaped across the room to
face her. "That's no good!" he said severely.
Aggie, too, rushed forward.
"No good at all!" she declared loudly.
The interference recalled the distressed woman to herself. She
made a desperate effort for self-command. Little by little, the
unmeaning look died down, and presently she sat silent and
moveless, staring at the two with stormy eyes out of a wan face.
"You were right," she said at last, in a lifeless voice.
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