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"You don't look yourself to-day, Hugh," she said
"I've been told that once before," he replied "The weather--I think! Are you going over to the bal blanc at Nice to-night?"
"Of course And you are co also Hasn't mother asked you?" she inquired in surprise
"No"
"How silly! She otten She told me she intended to ask you to have a seat in the car The Co with us"
"Ah! He adh blurted forth
"But, surely, you're not jealous, you dear old thing!" laughed the girl, tantalizing him Perhaps she would not have uttered those words which cut deeply into his heart had she known the truth concerning the tragedy at the Villa Aah declared "I know your mother likes him very much--of course!"
"And she likes you, too, dear"
"She ins to suspect that we love each other, dearest," he said in a hard tone "If she does, she will take care in future to keep us apart, and I--I shall lose you, Dorise!"
"No--no, you won't"
"Ah! But I shall! Your mother will never allow you towith, and who is already in debt to his tailor What hope is there that we can ever h, you are awfully pessiirl cried "What is up with you? Have you lost heavily at the tables--or what?"
"No I have been thinking of the future," he said in a hard voice so very unusual to hi of your e Sherrard"
"I hate hiirl, her fine eyes flashing with anger "I'll never h Henfrey ether in silence
"Cannot you trust irl at last in a low earnest tone
"Yes, dearest I trust you, of course But I feel certain that youre with Sherrard Remember, he's a rich man, and your mother adores the Golden Calf"
"I know she does If people have money she wants to know them Her first inquiry is whether they have ue to reht well be expected of the wife of a jerry-builder in Golder's green But he hesitated Lady Ranscoood tirouse moor she rented in Scotland each year for the benefit of her intih she had been the wife of a sht-rooe of Hampstead Heath, yet she had picked up society ence and considerable wit Nevertheless, she had no soul above aiety was as life to her She could not live without it Dorise had been given an excellent education, and after three years at Versailles was now voted one of the prettiest and hter were sought after everywhere, and their doings were constantly being chronicled in the newspapers