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lordship was only joking Here's a very good health to you, my lord, and

your future lady"

"And God bless ye both," said Mrs Styles, in the background

They drove away in grand style, theon her hind legs; and Drake, when thetrot, stole his hand round Nell's waist, and pressed her

to hi, Nell?" he said, in a low

voice

Nell shook her head shyly

"I'll tell you The sudden good fortune has seemed so unreal to rasp it It wasn't enough for the

countess to know and congratulate us--it wasn't enough, somehow I

wanted some of the people on the estate to see you, and, so to speak,

set their seal on our engagee Do you

understand, dearest? I' it very plain, I' over with love for hi into the--family, as it were," he

said "And now I feel as if it were io down to the inn to-night and talk about our visit,

and give a detailed account of the 'new ladyship,' and everybody on the

estate will know of ood fortune It is almost as if"--he paused, and

the color rose to his face--"as if erecan separate us now"