CHAPTER VIII.
A CAREER OF DECEPTION.
Never did a placid, good-natured woman,
habitually truthful, unaccustomed to all save
the shallowest of plots, unused to taking the
initiative, and indeed, preferring to depend on
the advice of others, find herself in a more unpleasant
predicament than did Miss Prudence
Semaphore. That her dilemma originated
in no fault of her own, served in no wise to
console her. To a certain extent she rose to
the situation and decided, with a promptitude
that for her was marvellous, on a course of
action, but she longed for some friendly soul
to whom she could tell her difficulties, and
whose counsel she could seek. Happily,
perhaps, for the keeping of her secret, she
had to bear her own burden in silence, and
take all the responsibility on her own weak
shoulders.
A very pale and tremulous Miss Prudence
