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His artless pride in planning this distressing festivity was so

ludicrous that Lloyd Pryor's disgust changed into involuntary mirth

But Helena was plainly nervous "Thank you; you are very kind; but I

a towards the dining-room As for the

visitor, he only had eyes for the mistress of the house

"Why should you say no?"

She tried to answer lightly "Oh, I like to be quiet"

"Quiet?" cried Benjalass

"At your age? Nonsense!" He paused, cleared his throat, and then

sonorously: "'Can you endure the livery of a nun, For aye to be in shady cloister

faint hymns to

the cold, fruitless moon?' Giveshy--a pretty creatur' like you! And you said

you liked the play," he added with childlike reproach

Helena, glad to change the subject, made haste to reassure him "I do,

I do!" she said, and for a few

with her praise of Saht

was not critical of her criticis she could say seemed to him

excessive He contradicted every stateh of satisfaction, he returned to his

invitation Helena shook her head decidedly