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The Lamp in the Desert by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell
page 94 of 495 (18%)
stretched her white arms up, clasping her hands behind her head. "I have
promised to ride with him in the early mornings now and then. Won't
darling Dick be jealous when he knows?"

Mrs. Ralston uttered a sigh. There were times when all her attempts to
reform this giddy little butterfly seemed unavailing. Nevertheless,
being sound of principle and unfailingly conscientious, she made a
gallant effort. "Do you think you ought to do that, dear? I always think
that we ought to live more circumspectly here at Bhulwana than down at
Kurrumpore. And--if I may be allowed to say so--your husband is such a
good, kind man, so indulgent, it seems unfair to take advantage of it."

"Oh, is he?" laughed Netta. "How ill you know my doughty Richard! Why,
it's half the fun in life to make him mad. He nearly turned me over his
knee and spanked me the last time."

"My dear, I wish he had!" said Mrs. Ralston, with downright fervour. "It
would do you good."

"Think so?" Netta flicked the ash from her cigarette with a disdainful
gesture. "It all depends. I should either worship him or loath him
afterwards. I wonder which. Poor old Richard! It's silly of him to stay
in love with the same person always, isn't it? I couldn't be so
monotonous if I tried."

"In fact if he cared less about you, you would think more of him,"
remarked Mrs. Ralston, with a quite unusual touch of severity.

Netta Ermsted laughed again, her light, heartless laugh. "How crushingly
absolute! But it is the literal truth. I certainly should. He's cheap
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