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Reade, Charles, 1814-1884

"A Woman-Hater"

"
"Who cares?" said Fanny, recklessly. "Dinner comes every day, and always
at the only time when one has no appetite. But this eating of peaches--
Oh, what a beauty!"
"Children," said Zoe, gravely, "I advise you not to eat above a dozen. Do
not enter on a fatal course, which in one brief year will reduce you to a
hapless condition. There--I was let loose among them at sixteen, and ever
since they pall. But I do like to see you eat them, and your eyes
sparkle."
"That is too bad of you," said Fanny, driving her white teeth deep into a
peach. "The idea! Now, Mr. Severne, do my eyes sparkle?"
"Like diamonds. But that proves nothing: it is their normal condition."
"There, make him a courtesy," said Zoe, "and come along."
She took them into the village. It was one of the old sort; little
detached houses with little gardens in front, in all of which were a few
humble flowers, and often a dark rose of surpassing beauty. Behind each
cottage was a large garden, with various vegetables, and sometimes a few
square yards of wheat. There was one little row of new brick houses
standing together; their number five, their name Newtown.


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