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       ,M>ILLA ,CU?B]T IS ,SURPRIS$

  ,M>ILLA CAME BRISKLY =W>D Z ,MAT!W OP5$
! DOOR4 ,B :5 H] EYES FELL (! ODD LL
FIGURE 9 ! /IFF1 UGLY DRESS1 )! L;G BRAIDS
( R$ HAIR &! EAG]1 LUM9\S EYES1 %E /OPP$
%ORT 9 AMAZE;T4
  8,MAT!W ,CU?B]T1 :O'S T80 %E EJACULAT$4
8,": IS ! BOY80
  8,"! WASN'T ANY BOY10 SD ,MAT!W
WRET*$LY4 8,"! 0 ONLY ,,H]40
  ,HE NO4$ AT ! *1 REMEMB]+ T HE _H N"E
EV5 ASK$ H] "N4
  8,NO BOY6 ,B "! ,,M/ H BE5 A BOY10 9SI/$
,M>ILLA4 8,WE S5T ^W 6,MRS4 ,SP;ER 6BR+ A
BOY40
  8,WELL1 %E DIDN'T4 ,%E BR"\ ,,H]4 ,I
ASK$ ! /,NMA/]4 ,& ,I _H 6BR+ H] HOME4 ,%E
CDN'T 2 LEFT "!1 NO MATT] ": ! MISTAKE _H
-E IN40
  8,WELL1 ? IS A PRETTY PIECE ( BUSI;S60EJACULAT$ ,M>ILLA4                     #CI
  ,DUR+ ? DIALOGUE ! * _H REMA9$ SIL5T1 H]
EYES ROV+ F "O 6! O!R1 ALL ! ANIM,N FAD+ \
( H] FACE4 ,SU45LY %E SEEM$ 6GRASP ! FULL
M1N+ ( :AT _H BE5 SD4 ,DROPP+ H] PRECI\S
C>PET-BAG %E SPRANG =W>D A /EP & CLASP$ H]
H&S4
  8,Y DON'T WANT ME60 %E CRI$4 8,Y DON'T
WANT ME 2C ,I'M N A BOY6 ,I MI<T H EXPECT$
X4 ,NOBODY "E DID WANT ME4 ,I MI<T H "KN X
0 ALL TOO B1UTI;L 6LA/4 ,I MI<T H "KN
NOBODY RE,Y DID WANT ME4 ,OH1 :AT % ,I D8
,I'M GO+ 6BUR/ 96TE>S60
  ,BUR/ 96TE>S %E DID4 ,SITT+ D[N ON A
*AIR 0! TA#1 FL++ H] >MS \ ^U X1 & BURY+
H] FACE 9 !M1 %E PROCE$$ 6CRY /ORMILY4
,M>ILLA & ,MAT!W LOOK$ AT EA* O!R
DEPRECAT+LY ACR ! /OVE4 ,NEI ( !M KNEW :AT
6SAY OR D4 ,F9,Y ,M>ILLA /EPP$ LAMELY 96!
BR1*4
  8,WELL1 WELL1 "!'S NO NE$ 6CRY S AB X40
  8,YES1 "! ,,IS NE$60 ,! * RAIS$ H] H1D
QKLY1 REV1L+ A TE>-/A9$ FACE & TREMBL+
LIPS4 8,,Y WD CRY1 TOO1 IF Y 7 AN ORPHAN &
_H -E 6A PLACE Y ?"\ 0 GO+ 6BE HOME & F.DT !Y DIDN'T WANT Y 2C Y W]5'T A BOY4   #DJ
,OH1 ? IS ! MO/ ,,TRAGICAL ?+ T "E HAPP5$
6ME60
  ,"S?+ L A RELUCTANT SMILE1 R RU/Y F L;G
4USE1 MELL[$ ,M>ILLA'S GRIM EXPRES.N4
  8,WELL1 DON'T CRY ANY M4 ,WE'RE N GO+
6TURN Y \- (-DOORS TO-NI<T4 ,Y'LL H 6/AY
"H UNTIL WE 9VE/IGATE ? A6AIR4 ,:AT'S YR
"N80
  ,! * HESITAT$ =A MO;T4
  8,W Y PL1SE CALL ME ,CORDELIA80 %E SD
EAG]LY4
  8,,CALL Y ,CORDELIA8 ,IS T YR "N80
  8,NO-;O-;O1 X'S N EXACTLY MY "N1 B ,I WD
LOVE 6BE CALL$ ,CORDELIA4 ,X'S S* A
P]FECTLY ELEGANT "N40
  8,I DON'T "K :AT ON E>? Y M1N4 ,IF
,CORDELIA ISN'T YR "N1 :AT IS80
  8,ANNE ,%IRLEY10 RELUCTANTLY FALT]$ =? !
[N] ( T "N1 8B1 OH1 PL1SE D CALL ME
,CORDELIA4 ,X C'T MATT] M* 6Y :AT Y CALL
ME IF ,I'M ONLY GO+ 6BE "H A LL :ILE1 C X8
,& ,ANNE IS S* AN UNROMANTIC "N40
  8,UNROMANTIC FI4LE/ICKS60 SD !
UNSYMPA!TIC ,M>ILLA4 8,ANNE IS A R1L GDPLA9 S5SI# "N4 ,Y'VE NO NE$ 6BE        #DA
A%AM$ ( X40
  8,OH1 ,I'M N A%AM$ ( X10 EXPLA9$ ,ANNE1
8ONLY ,I L ,CORDELIA BETT]4 ,I'VE ALW
IMAG9$ T MY "N 0 ,CORDELIA--AT L1/1 ,I ALW
H ( LATE YE>S4 ,:5 ,I 0 "Y ,I US$ 6IMAG9E
X 0 ,G]ALD9E1 B ,I L ,CORDELIA BETT] N[4
,B IF Y CALL ME ,ANNE PL1SE CALL ME ,ANNE
SPELL$ ) AN ,E40
  8,:AT DI6];E DOES X MAKE H[ X'S SPELL$80
ASK$ ,M>ILLA ) ANO!R RU/Y SMILE Z %E PICK$
UP ! T1POT4
  8,OH1 X MAKES ,,S* A DI6];E4 ,X ,,LOOKS
S M* NIC]4 ,:5 Y HE> A "N PRON\NC$ C'T Y
ALW SEE X 9 YR M9D1 J Z IF X 0 PR9T$ \8 ,I
C2 & ,A-N-N LOOKS DR1D;L1 B ,A-N-N-E LOOKS
S M* M 4T+UI%$4 ,IF Y'LL ONLY CALL ME
,ANNE SPELL$ ) AN ;,E ,I % TRY 6RECONCILE
MYF 6N 2+ CALL$ ,CORDELIA40
  8,V WELL1 !N1 ,ANNE SPELL$ ) AN ;,E1 C Y
TELL U H[ ? MISTAKE CAME 6BE MADE8 ,WE S5T
^W 6,MRS4 ,SP;ER 6BR+ U A BOY4 ,7 "! NO
BOYS AT ! ASYLUM80
  8,OH1 YES1 "! 0 AN ABUND.E ( !M4 ,B
,MRS4 ,SP;ER SD ,,4T9CTLY T Y WANT$ A GIRLAB ELEV5 YE>S OLD4 ,&! MATRON SD %E    #DB
?"\ ,I WD D4 ,Y DON'T "K H[ DELI<T$ ,I
WAS4 ,I CDN'T SLEEP ALL LA/ NI<T = JOY4
,OH10 %E A4$ REPROA*;LLY1 TURN+ 6,MAT!W1
8:Y DIDN'T Y TELL ME AT ! /,N T Y DIDN'T
WANT ME & L1VE ME "!8 ,IF ,I _HN'T SE5 !
,:ITE ,WAY ( ,DELI<T &! ,LAKE ( ,%9+
,WAT]S X WDN'T 2 S H>D40
  8,:AT ON E>? DOES %E M1N80 DEM&$
,M>ILLA1 />+ AT ,MAT!W4
  8,%E--%E'S J REF]R+ 6"S 3V]S,N WE _H ON
! ROAD10 SD ,MAT!W HA/ILY4 8,I'M GO+ \
6PUT ! M>E IN1 ,M>ILLA4 ,H TEA R1DY :5 ,I
-E BACK40
  8,DID ,MRS4 ,SP;ER BR+ ANYBODY OV] 2SS
Y80 3T9U$ ,M>ILLA :5 ,MAT!W _H G"O \4
  8,%E BR"\ ,LILY ,J"OS = H]F4 ,LILY IS
ONLY FIVE YE>S OLD & %E IS V B1UTI;L & _H
NUT-BR[N HAIR4 ,IF ,I 0 V B1UTI;L & _H
NUT-BR[N HAIR WD Y KEEP ME80
  8,NO4 ,WE WANT A BOY 6HELP ,MAT!W ON !
F>M4 ,A GIRL WD 2 ( NO USE 6U4 ,TAKE (F YR
HAT4 ,I'LL LAY X & YR BAG ON ! HALL TA#40
  ,ANNE TOOK (F H] HAT MEEKLY4 ,MAT!W CAME
BACK PRES5TLY & !Y SAT D[N 6SUPP]4 ,B,ANNE CD N EAT4 ,9 VA9 %E NIB#D AT !   #DC
BR1D & BUTT] & PECK$ AT ! CRAB-APPLE
PRES]VE \ (! LL SCALLOP$ GLASS DI% 0H]
PLATE4 ,%E DID N RE,Y MAKE ANY H1DWAY AT
ALL4
  8,Y'RE N EAT+ ANY?+10 SD ,M>ILLA %>PLY1
EY+ H] Z IF X 7 A S]I\S %ORTCOM+4 ,ANNE
SI<$4
  8,I C'T4 ,I'M 9 ! DEP?S ( DESPAIR4 ,C Y
EAT :5 Y >E 9 ! DEP?S ( DESPAIR80
  8,I'VE N"E BE5 9 ! DEP?S ( DESPAIR1 S ,I
C'T SAY10 RESPOND$ ,M>ILLA4
  8,W]5'T Y8 ,WELL1 DID Y "E TRY 6,,IMAG9E
Y 7 9 ! DEP?S ( DESPAIR80
  8,NO1 ,I DIDN'T40
  8,!N ,I DON'T ?9K Y C "U/& :AT X'S L4
,X'S V UNCOM=TA# FEEL+ 9DE$4 ,:5 Y TRY
6EAT A LUMP -ES "R UP 9 YR ?ROAT & Y C'T
SWALL[ ANY?+1 N EV5 IF X 0 A *OCOLATE
C>AMEL4 ,I _H "O *OCOLATE C>AMEL ONCE TWO
YE>S AGO & X 0 SIMPLY DELICI\S4 ,I'VE (T5
DR1M$ S9CE !N T ,I _H A LOT ( *OCOLATE
C>AMELS1 B ,I ALW WAKE UP J :5 ,I'M GO+
6EAT !M4 ,I D HOPE Y WON'T 2 (F5D$ 2C ,I
C'T EAT4 ,"EY?+ IS EXTREMELY NICE1 B / ,I_C EAT40                               #DD
  8,I GUESS %E'S TIR$10 SD ,MAT!W1 :O
_HN'T SPOK5 S9CE 8 RETURN F ! B>N4 8,BE/
PUT H] 6B$1 ,M>ILLA40
  ,M>ILLA _H BE5 WOND]+ ": ,ANNE %D 2 PUT
6B$4 ,%E _H PREP>$ A C\* 9 ! KIT*5 *AMB] =
! DESIR$ & EXPECT$ BOY4 ,B1 AL? X 0 N1T &
CL1N1 X DID N SEEM Q ! ?+ 6PUT A GIRL "!
"SH[4 ,B ! SP>E ROOM 0 \ (! "Q = S* A /RAY
WAIF1 S "! REMA9$ ONLY ! EA/ GA# ROOM4
,M>ILLA LI<T$ A C&LE & TOLD ,ANNE 6FOLL[
H]1 : ,ANNE _S.SLY DID1 TAK+ H] HAT &
C>PET-BAG F ! HALL TA# Z %E PASS$4 ,! HALL
0 FE>"SLY CL1N2 ! LL GA# *AMB] 9 : %E
PRES5TLY F.D H]F SEEM$ / CL1N]4
  ,M>ILLA SET ! C&LE ON A ?REE-LE7$1 ?REE-
CORN]$ TA# & TURN$ D[N ! B$CLO!S4
  8,I SUPPOSE Y H A NI<TG[N80 %E "Q$4
  ,ANNE NO4$4
  8,YES1 ,I H TWO4 ,! MATRON (! ASYLUM
MADE !M = ME4 ,!Y'RE FE>;LLY SKIMPY4 ,"!
IS N"E 5 6G >.D 9 AN ASYLUM1 S ?+S >E ALW
SKIMPY--AT L1/ 9 A POOR ASYLUM L \RS4 ,I
HATE SKIMPY NI<T-DRESSES4 ,B "O C DR1M J Z
WELL 9 !M Z 9 LOVELY TRAIL+ "OS1 ) FRILLS>.D ! NECK1 T'S "O 3SOL,N40            #DE
  8,WELL1 UNDRESS Z QK Z Y C & G 6B$4
,I'LL -E BACK 9 A FEW M9UTES =! C&LE4 ,I
D>5'T TRU/ Y 6PUT X \ YRF4 ,Y'D LIKELY SET
! PLACE ON FIRE40
  ,:5 ,M>ILLA _H G"O ,ANNE LOOK$ >.D H]
WI/;LLY4 ,! :ITEWA%$ WALLS 7 S PA9;LLY B>E
& />+ T %E ?"\ !Y M/ A*E OV] _! [N B>E;S4
,! FLOOR 0 B>E1 TOO1 EXCEPT =A R.D BRAID$
MAT 9 ! MI4LE S* Z ,ANNE _H N"E SE5 2F4 ,9
"O CORN] 0 ! B$1 A HI<1 OLD-FA%ION$ "O1 )
F\R D>K1 L[- TURN$ PO/S4 ,9 ! O!R CORN] 0
! A=ESD ?REE- CORN] TA# ADORN$ )A FAT1 R$
VELVET P9-CU%ION H>D 5 6TURN ! PO9T (! MO/
ADV5TUR\S P94 ,ABV X HUNG A LL SIX-BY-EI<T
MIRROR4 ,MIDWAY 2T TA# & B$ 0 ! W9D[1 ) AN
ICY :ITE MUSL9 FRILL OV] X1 & OPPOSITE X 0
! WA%-/&4 ,! :OLE A"P;T 0 (A RIGID;Y N 6BE
DESCRIB$ 9 ^WS1 B : S5T A %IV] 6! V M>R[ (
,ANNE'S B"OS4 ,)A SOB %E HA/ILY 4C>D$ H]
G>;TS1 PUT ON ! SKIMPY NI<TG[N & SPRANG
96B$ ": %E BURR[$ FACE D[NW>D 96! PILL[ &
PULL$ ! CLO!S OV] H] H1D4 ,:5 ,M>ILLA CAME
UP =! LI<T V>I\S SKIMPY >TICLES ( RAI;T
SCATT]$ MO/ UNTIDILY OV] ! FLOOR &A C]TA9TEMPE/U\S APPE>.E (! B$ 7 ! ONLY       #DF
9DIC,NS ( ANY PRES;E SAVE H] [N4
  ,%E DELIB]ATELY PICK$ UP ,ANNE'S CLO!S1
PLAC$ !M N1TLY ON A PRIM YELL[ *AIR1 & !N1
TAK+ UP ! C&LE1 W5T OV] 6! B$4
  8,GD NI<T10 %E SD1 A LL AWKW>DLY1 B N
UNK9DLY4
  ,ANNE'S :ITE FACE & BIG EYES APPE>$ OV]
! B$CLO!S )A />TL+ SU45;S4
  8,H[ C Y CALL X A ,,GD NI<T :5 Y "K X M/
2 ! V WOR/ NI<T ,I'VE "E _H80 %E SD
REPROA*;LLY4
  ,!N %E DIV$ D[N 969VISIBIL;Y AG4
  ,M>ILLA W5T SL[LY D[N 6! KIT*5 & PROCE$$
6WA% ! SUPP] DI%ES4 ,MAT!W 0 SMOK+--A SURE
SIGN ( P]TURB,N ( M9D4 ,HE SELDOM SMOK$1 =
,M>ILLA SET H] FACE AG/ X Z A FIL?Y HABIT2
B AT C]TA9 "TS & S1SONS HE FELT DRIV5 6X &
!M ,M>ILLA W9K$ AT ! PRACTICE1 R1LIZ+ T A
M]E MAN M/ H "S V5T = 8 EMO;NS4
  8,WELL1 ? IS A PRETTY KETTLE ( FI%10 %E
SD WRA?;LLY4 8,? IS :AT -ES ( S5D+ ^W 9/1D
( GO+ \RVS4 ,RI*>D ,SP;ER'S FOLKS H TWI/$
T MESSAGE "SH[4 ,"O ( U W H 6DRIVE OV] &
SEE ,MRS4 ,SP;ER TM1 T'S C]TA94 ,? GIRL WH 6BE S5T BACK 6! ASYLUM40             #DG
  8,YES1 ,I SUPPOSE S10 SD ,MAT!W
RELUCTANTLY4
  8,Y ,,SUPPOSE S6 ,DON'T Y "K X80
  8,WELL N[1 %E'S A R1L NICE LL ?+1
,M>ILLA4 ,X'S K9D (A P;Y 6S5D H] BACK :5
%E'S S SET ON /AY+ "H40
  8,MAT!W ,CU?B]T1 Y DON'T M1N 6SAY Y ?9K
WE "\ 6KEEP H]60
  ,M>ILLA'S A/ONI%;T CD N H BE5 GRT] IF
,MAT!W _H EXPRESS$ A PREDILEC;N = /&+ ON 8
H1D4
  8,WELL1 N[1 NO1 ,I SUPPOSE N--N
EXACTLY10 /AMM]$ ,MAT!W1 UNCOM=TABLY DRIV5
96A CORN] = 8 PRECISE M1N+4 8,I SUPPOSE--
WE CD H>DLY 2 EXPECT$ 6KEEP H]40
  8,I %D SAY N4 ,:AT GD WD %E 2 6U80
  8,WE MI<T 2 "S GD 6H]10 SD ,MAT!W SU45LY
& UNEXPECT$LY4
  8,MAT!W ,CU?B]T1 ,I 2LIEVE T * HAS
2WIT*$ Y6 ,I C SEE Z PLA9 Z PLA9 T Y WANT
6KEEP H]40
  8,WELL N[1 %E'S A R1L 9T]E/+ LL ?+10
P]SI/$ ,MAT!W4 8,Y %D H HE>D H] TALK -+ F
! /,N40  8,OH1 %E C TALK FA/ 5\<4 ,I SAW T    #DH
AT ONCE4 ,X'S NO?+ 9 H] FAV\R1 EI4 ,I
DON'T L *N :O H S M* 6SAY4 ,I DON'T WANT
AN ORPHAN GIRL & IF ,I DID %E ISN'T ! /YLE
,I'D PICK \4 ,"!'S "S?+ ,I DON'T "U/& AB
H]4 ,NO1 %E'S GOT 6BE DESPAT*$ /RAI<T-WAY
BACK 6": %E CAME F40
  8,I CD HIRE A ,FR5* BOY 6HELP ME10 SD
,MAT!W1 8& %E'D 2 -PANY = Y40
  8,I'M N SU6]+ = -PANY10 SD ,M>ILLA
%ORTLY4 8,& ,I'M N GO+ 6KEEP H]40
  8,WELL N[1 X'S J Z Y SAY1 ( C\RSE1
,M>ILLA10 SD ,MAT!W RIS+ & PUTT+ 8 PIPE
AWAY4 8,I'M GO+ 6B$40
  ,6B$ W5T ,MAT!W4 ,& 6B$1 :5 %E _H PUT H]
DI%ES AWAY1 W5T ,M>ILLA1 FR[N+ MO/
RESOLUTELY4 ,& UP-/AIRS1 9 ! EA/ GA#1 A
L"OLY1 HE>T-HUNGRY1 FR.S * CRI$ H]F
6SLEEP4