"
"Well, besides Diana, she was called Cynthia, Delia, Ancia, Orthia and
several other names--"
"And all of 'em pretty, too!"
"And she was passionately fond of hunting."
"And didn't like men overmuch, did she?"
"Well, it appears not. She changed Actaeon into a stag and had him
devoured by her dogs--"
"Which wasn't very ladylike, Peregrine--that was coming it a bit too
strong, I think! Why did she do it? Poor young man!"
"Because he spied upon her--at her toilet."
"Was that all? d'ye mean he catches her undoin' her curl papers?"
"She was--bathing!"
"Oh!" said Diana. "Well, poor young man! She'd got modesty pretty bad,
I think, and if all goddesses are like her--"
"They were not."
"Oh, well, let's talk o' something more human-like--"
"Ourselves!" I suggested.
"Well, I sold every one o' my baskets and earned fifty-six shillings.
How much money did you spend, Peregrine?"
"I'm not sure, but about twenty-seven pounds, I fancy."
"Pounds?" she cried so suddenly that Diogenes pricked his ears. "For
them noo duds--"
"Horrible!" I exclaimed.
"It is!" said she. "It's wicked robbery--"
"I mean your grammar, Diana, and the word 'duds', whatever it may
mean, sounds atrocious, especially on your lips--"
"Oh, tush! d'ye mean as they charges you all that money for them
new--"
"Those!" I corrected.
"Things you're wearing--"
"You forget the despised locket and chain," said I reproachfully, "and
I also purchased two silver watches--"
"Watches? Two on 'em? What for?"
"One for our Tinker and one for Jessamy," I explained.
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