That's what I shall end by doing. I've
been all the way to Sandgate with that lot you saw me with, and I've
kissed four of them--the nasty wretches. I'm a nice sort of girl to be
walking out with a respectable milkman.'
"She was so deeply disgusted with herself that it seemed superfluous for
anybody else to be indignant with her; and Ethelbertha changed her tone
and tried to comfort her.
"'Oh, you'll get over all that nonsense, Amenda,' she said, laughingly;
'you see yourself how silly it is. You must tell Mr. Bowles to keep you
away from soldiers.'
"'Ah, I can't look at it in the same light way that you do, mum,'
returned Amenda, somewhat reprovingly; 'a girl that can't see a bit of
red marching down the street without wanting to rush out and follow it
ain't fit to be anybody's wife. Why, I should be leaving the shop with
nobody in it about twice a week, and he'd have to go the round of all the
barracks in London, looking for me. I shall save up and get myself into
a lunatic asylum, that's what I shall do.'
"Ethelbertha began to grow quite troubled. 'But surely this is something
altogether new, Amenda,' she said; 'you must have often met soldiers when
you've been out in London?'
"'Oh yes, one or two at a time, walking about anyhow, I can stand that
all right.
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