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"Well," she said with a sigh, "it's helped
clear things up, some way, to talk with you,
Betty. I believe I will write and tell my father
to come and 'get her!' I could ask him if neither
of them cared enough about me to try to make
up, and if he wanted to see some other man fall
in love with my mother and try to win her, all
for the want of his making love the way he
can. Oh, you ought to see my father, Betty.
Giovanna says that they fell in love at first
sight because of their looks. And my father
is not a fortune hunter! He hasn't as much
money as my mother has and I suppose that
is one reason why he was so proud about the
whole thing; but he has a good home in Milan.
You'd love it, Betty, and I hope you'll be in
it some day. Oh!"

Now, indeed, Lucia cried in earnest and Betty,
holding her affectionately, let her cry it out.



 [[99]]