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"Mr Pluotten that I was a reluctant ear-witness to his

recent proposal of e?"

Maud uttered an exclamation

"I never asked! How terrible of e could not follow her

"That night When you were on the balcony, and--"

"Oh!" George understood "Oh, no, hardly at all A few scratches I

scrapedto do," said Maud, her ad

for a htly She had always

had a private theory that Lord Leonard, after perfored about it for the rest of his life

"No, no, nothing," said George, who had since wondered why he had

everup a perfectly stout sheet

"It was splendid!"

George blushed

"We are wandering from the main theme," he said "I want to help

you I came here at enormous expense to help you How can I do

it?"

Maud hesitated

"I think you "

"You needn't"

"You see, the whole trouble is that I can't get in touch with