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"What, htfully dense you are, Barnabas!" she exclai in her reticule "What should it be but a letter, to be

sure--Cleone's letter"

"A letter from Cleone! Oh, Duchess--"

"Here--take it She wrote it last night--poor child didn't sleep a

wink, I know, and--all on your account, sir I promised I'd deliver

it for her,--I

me here So you see I've kept my word as I always do--that

is--sometimes Oh, dear me, I'm so excited--about the race, I

before dawn,

and there were tears on her lashes--I know because I felt 'em when I

kissed them--I mean her eyes And Patten dressed --which was really ht--and there you stand staring at it as though you wanted

to kiss it--IThat ridiculous

Mr Tressider told Cleone that it was the best course he ever hoped

to ride over-- 'the worst' of course, so Cleone's quite

wretched, dear lamb--but oh, Barnabas, it would be dreadful if--

if you were--killed--oh!" And the Duchess shivered and turned away