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           Butdon’titsoundnice?That’sthewayshesaidit—‘YourfortuneisEthan.Heisgoingtobeaveryrichman,maybethebiggestmaninthistown.’"

           "Goddamher!She’sgotnoright."

           "Ethan!"

           "Doyouknowwhatshe’sdoing?Doyouknowwhatyou’redoing?"

           "IknowI’magoodwifeandshe’sagoodfriend.AndIdon’twanttoquarrelwiththechildrenhearing.MargieYoungisthebestfriendI’vegot.Iknowyoudon’tlikeher.WhatIthinkisyou’rejealousofmyfriends—that’swhatIthink.Ihadahappyafternoonandyouwanttospoilit.That’snotnice."Mary’sfacewasmottledwithangrydisappointment,andvengefultowardthisobstacletoherdaydreaming.

           "Youjustsitthere,Mr.Smart,andtearpeopledown.YouthinkMargiemadeitallup.Shedidn’t,becauseIcutthecardsthreetimes—butevensupposingshedid,whywouldshedoitexcepttobekindandfriendlyandofferalittlehelp.Youtellmethat,Mr.Smart!Youfindsomenastyreason."

           "IwishIknew,"hesaid."Itmightbepuremischief.Shehasn’tamanorajob.Itmightbemischief."

           Maryloweredhervoiceandspokewithscorn."Youtalkaboutmischief—youwouldn’tknowmischiefifitslappedyouintheface.Youdon’tknowwhatMargiegoesthrough.Why,therearemeninthistownafterherallthetime.Bigmen,marriedmen,whisperingandurging—nasty.Sometimesshedon’tknowwheretoturn.That’swhysheneedsme,awomanfriend.Oh,shetoldmethings—menyoujustwouldn’tbelieve.