Fogo's
attire lying underneath the bank. Light began to dawn on him; he
turned to Miss Limpenny--
"You'll excuse me, ma'am, but was you present by any chance when--?"
"Heaven forbid!" she cried, and put her hands before her face.
"Then, beggin' your pard'n, but how did you come here?"
"I was wandering on the bank--and lost in thought--and came upon
these--these articles. And then--oh! I cannot, I cannot."
"Furder question es," pursued Peter, with an interrogative glance at
his brother, who nodded, "why not ha' gone away?"
"Dear me!" exclaimed Miss Limpenny, "I never thought of it!"
She gathered up her skirts, and disdaining the assistance of the
gallant Paul, clambered up the bank, and with a formal bow left the
Twins staring. As she remarked tearfully to Lavinia that evening,
"What one requires in these cases is presence of mind, my dear," and
she heaved a piteous little sigh.
"But consider," urged the sympathetic Lavinia, "your feelings at the
moment. I am sure that under similar circumstances"--she shuddered--
"I should have behaved in precisely the same way."
Mr. Fogo emerged in so benumbed a condition, his teeth chattered so
loudly, and his nose had grown so appallingly blue, that the Twins,
who had in delicacy at first retired to a little distance, were
forced to return and help him into his clothes.
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