Miss Steele. Certainly.
Mary Ann. Repr-ehe-nsi-ble.
Miss Steele. You did not divide the syllables correctly. Try again.
Mary Ann. Yes'm. Re-preh-ens-ib-le.
Miss Steele. I cannot make it out yet.
Mary Ann. It's what you said the custom of sending valentines was.
Miss Steele. Oh! reprehensible. And so it is. That means blameworthy, pernicious. A very pernicious custom—most reprehensible.
Mary Ann. Thanks awfully. (Murmurs.) So glad to know.