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most of the time now, that I don't want to look right at her, because if the snake-look isn't actually present a disdainful, high & mighty sneer generally is. 

I was full of pity & sympathy for the girl until I came to realize that her real malady is pure selfishness.  When she worked herself up into a wild passion, then I couldn't believe that she is responsible for what she is doing, but those passions almost invariably start because she is refused something, or is feeling tired.  She knows their financial condition: that her father barely supports himself, that her sister Genevieve, while getting high pay for her work, works so slowly that she can't help [[strikethrough]] these [[/strikethrough]] her & Edith any & yet she acts like an ignorant child because she can't have some trifle.  And Edith is just as bad.  She so worships Mildred that she can't bear to have her out of her sight & yet she knows that when she does stay away from here for a day she is much better.  But no, she is bound to be around her, fawning & carressing her & pleading & begging her till she helps drive here half crazy.  They ask Dr. Peterson's advice - & he gives it, free - when he says "leave Mildred alone. Let her walk on the rocks alone & have more peace. She isn't going to try & kill herself by jumping off the rocks into the water"!  Edith at once proclaims that Dr. P. doesn't know as well as she does - that he can't & that Mildred mustn't be left alone!!

A week ago yesterday afternoon I was desperately tried from three days of high-jinketing with Francesca Gilder who had been visiting Miss Beaux.  After tea, Edith discovered that Mildred had skipped out by the kitchen.  She was half crazy at once, so, much against my will I offered to go find Mildred.  I had on rubber soles, Mrs Mihans didn't know the rocks as well as I, Bebe was tired & isn't any too strong & I knew that if Edith went she would only make Mildred rabid.  I had