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"He will never do that, I a He has never been, in his own estied fro, and he ought to be perfectly free to do so, and not under the

disadvantage that any report of this affair would be to him"

"Well, I am sure he never will," said Fanny, almost petulantly; "I know

I shall hate her, that's all"

Erht her own charity towards Mrs Colin Keith much more

dubious than Lady Temple's, but she continued-"At any rate you will be so very kind as not to let any one know of it

I aht that you should not, but it

is different with others"

"Thank you And if you will not come to me, you will let me come to

you, won't you? It will be so nice to come and talk him over with you

Perhaps I shall persuade you soo now, for I always give the children their tea on Sunday But please

let your dear little niece come up to-morrow and play with thee"

Erh she was as doubtful

of her shy Rose's happiness as of the expedience of the intientle visitor, and no doubt Ermine

felt rejoiced and elevated She did not need fresh assurances of Colin's

constancy, but the affectionate sister-like congratulations of this

loving, winning creature, showed how real and in earnest his intentions

were And then Lady Te, as it was,

the reflection of her husband's, was no small testimony to his merits

"Pretty creature!" said Ermine to herself, "really if it did come to

that, I could spare him to her better than to any one else She has some

notion how to value him"

Alison and Rose had, in the meantime, been joined by Colonel Keith and

the boys, whom Alick had early deserted in favour of a sunny sandy nook