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"Pray relieve Lady Luce's anxiety, Nell, and tell her that she has

a but false," he

said tenderly

She looked up at hiony

of appeal, her lips quivering

"It is true!" she said, in a voice which, though loas perfectly

audible

There was an intense silence No one moved; every eye was fixed on her

in breathless excitement They asked theht Drake's hand pressed more heavily on Nell's shoulder;

she could hear his breath co heavily, could feel hileford's parted lips

"Nell!" she cried

Nell rose and looked at her with the saony of appeal in her eyes,

but with her face firmly set, as if she were buoyed up by an inflexible

resolution

"What Lady Luce has said is true," she said "I will go----"

Drake was by her side in an instant He took her cold hand and drew it

within his aro----"

He looked at Lady Luce, and there was no need to finish the sentence