But, to-day, even Raymond jarred on her. He kept talking, talking,
and it was difficult for her preoccupied mind to find the right
answer in the right place. He was talking about the celebrity who
was to give the "Lyceum Course" lecture that evening. The lecturer's
name was Dobson. Oh uninspiring name!--Ridgeley Holman Dobson. He
was a celebrity because he'd done something-or-other heroic in the
Spanish war. Missy didn't know just what it was, not being
particularly interested in newspapers and current events, and remote
things that didn't matter. But Raymond evidently knew something
about Dobson aside from his being just prominent.
"I only hope he kisses old Miss Lightner!" he said, chortling.
"Kisses her?" repeated Missy, roused from her reveries. Why on earth
should a lecturer kiss anybody, above all Miss Lightner, who was an
old maid and not attractive despite local gossip about her being
"man-crazy"? "Why would he kiss Miss Lightner?"
Raymond looked at her in astonishment.
"Why, haven't you heard about him?"
Missy shook her head.
"Why, he's always in the papers! Everywhere he goes, women knock
each other down to kiss him! The papers are full of it--don't say
you've never heard of it!"
But Missy shook her head again, an expression of distaste on her
face.
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