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"We shall stay three days"

Shock vibrated through otten I raised my eyes to Kevin's before I could stoptoward my mother, then my father I could not spend three days alone with my mother now I simply could not

"Is it so? Hoiftly the time passes!" said Papa "And when you return, Jessie shall travel to Grant's Hill with August O'Reilly?"

"Yes, Papa, that is e have planned," I said quickly, looking from my mother to hilance at him, then looked at my mother

"We shall see," she said

"Perhaps I htfully

"What say you, Papa?"

"I?" said Papa "Ach, I have no wish to visit the Town; though you go if you wish,done Go with your mother and sister and enjoy yourself"

Relief and thankfulness flooded ain thanked God for my father and my brother Kevin

My mother's mood remained bitter over the next two days I did indeed find ht; but I knew from experience that she would not keep her promise to keep me locked away for weeks As a child she hadthem out; now he did not know about her maltreatment of me, for I was too ashamed to tell him of her accusations, nohiht somehow save me fromht would have provoked coto Charles Toould not be such an ordeal with Kevin along Perhaps I ht even enjoy it Perhaps it would distract ive ether

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The trip to Charles Toas quite pleasant Mythe shops, the visits with friends, the dances and suppers

Kevin escorted us everywhere

Our second night there was spent at the home of the eminent Charles Town hostess Mrs So for supper and dancing I wore a nen of emerald silk; it did not flatter old hair and emerald eyes, but nonetheless I felt very pretty My hair was a nondescript light brown color but Lily had combed it all up and pinned ribbons in it; the dark fabric of the gown darkened ray