"
"That's her; thought I'd seen you there once. Well, the Doctor's
got her into it, up to the eyes. I reckon she's mortgaged
everything to him."
It required all Carroll's trained self-possession to prevent his
garrulous guide from reading his emotion in his face. This, then,
was the secret of Maruja's melancholy. Poor child! how bravely she
had borne up under it; and HE, in his utter selfishness, had never
suspected it. Perhaps that letter was her delicate way of breaking
the news to him, for he should certainly now hear it all from
Aladdin's lips. And this man, who evidently had succeeded to the
control of Dr. West's property, doubtless had possession of the
letters too! Humph! He shut his lips firmly together, and strode
along by the side of his innocent guide, erect and defiant.
He did not have long to wait. The sound of voices, the opening of
doors, and the trampling of feet indicated that the other party
were being "shown over" that part of the building Carroll and his
companion were approaching. "There's Jim and his gang now," said
his cicerone; "I'll tell him you're here, and step out of this show
business myself. So long! I reckon I'll see you at dinner." At
this moment Prince and a number of ladies and gentlemen appeared at
the further end of the hall; his late guide joined them, and
apparently indicated Carroll's presence, as, with a certain
lounging, off-duty, officer-like way, the young man sauntered on.
Aladdin, like others of his class, objected to the military,
theoretically and practically; but he was not above recognizing
their social importance in a country of no society, and of even
being fascinated by Carroll's quiet and secure self-possession and
self-contentment in a community of restless ambition and aggressive
assertion.
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