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The croquet practice still survived In truth, Fanny was afraid to ride

lest Lord Keith should join her, and was glad to surround herself with

companions She could not see the eneross herself with anybody or thing that ca to hi her boys "to speak to Mr Touchett," that she ht avoid

a tenwas she rateful than for the quiet and ever ready tact hich Bessie Keith

threw herself into the breach That bright damsel was clai the relationship, treated him with

the pretty playfulness and coquetry that elderly irls, and thus often effected a diversion in her friend's favour,

to the admiration both of the Colonel and of Lady Temple herself; all,

however, by intuition, for not a word had been hinted to her of what

had passed during that ga

creature; the Colonel was charmed with her conversation in its shades

between archness and good sense, and there was no one who did not look

forith dread to the end of her visit, when after a short stay with

one of her in her residence with the blind