"Well--I was trying to avoid being avoided by her," he explained. "Three
of those girls are married and living in town."
"Yes, I know," said I. "At least I know Camellia and Althea are. Who
else? Azalea lives across the river, doesn't she?"
"Yes. You haven't heard of the latest matrimonial alliance, then?" The
Skeptic chuckled. Hepatica looked at him, and he looked at her, and then
they both looked at me. "Dahlia was married yesterday," the Skeptic
announced with relish, "in a manse study, with two witnesses."
I was astounded. I had just come from home, and Dahlia was my next
neighbour. She had been away more or less all winter, but there had
been no announcement of any engagement--nor sign of one.
The Skeptic, enjoying my stupefaction, proceeded to give what he
considered an explanation. "I don't see why you should be so surprised,"
he said. "You knew Dahlia's methods. Her net was always spread, and
though a certain wise man declares it in vain to spread it in the sight
of any bird, humans are not always so wary.
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