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"But indeed I was--quite an infant, Fanny"

"Quite, my love, and used to dofriend of oing, you see, Letitia! Mr--"

"Beverley, madam," said Barnabas

"Thank you,--Beverley, of course! Mr Beverley--the Countess of Orhty stare of the keen,

hawk-like eyes

"And now, my sweet Letty," continued the Duchess, "you are always so

delightfully gossipy--have you any news,--any stories to laugh over?"

"No, dear Fanny, neither the one nor the other--only--"

"'Only,' my love?"

"Only--but you've heard it already, of course,--you would be the

very first to know of it!"

"Letitia, my dear--I always hated conundru of it, already"

"Heigho! Hoarossip, but they do say Cleone Meredith

has refused the hand of your grandnephew"

"Jerningham, oh yes," added the Duchess, "on the whole, it's just as

well"

"But I thought--" the hawk-eyes were very piercing indeed "I feared

it would be quite a blow to you--"

The Duchess shook her head, with a little ripple of laughter