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And sobs cut short her words. But as though of set design, each

time she was softened she began to speak again of what

exasperated her.

"She's young, you see, she's pretty," she went on. "Do you know,

Anna, my youth and my beauty are gone, taken by whom? By him and

his children. I have worked for him, and all I had has gone in

his service, and now of course any fresh, vulgar creature has

more charm for him. No doubt they talked of me together, or,

worse still, they were silent. Do you understand?"

Again her eyes glowed with hatred.