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"Your honour's pardon,

I'd rather have ot theo the week after next"

"So soon? I thought you were to stay for our ball"

"Till this time next year! No, no, I can't quite do that, thank you"

"This very winter"

"Oh, no--no such thing! Why, half the beauty and fashion of the

neighbourhood is not come into winter quarters yet Besides, the very

essence of a htest

and the last Goodloth, was turned away from the wide view of

the broad vale of the Avon, with the Avoncester Cathedral towers in the

beyond in purple distance The two young

lieutenants could only wave their farewells, as Bessie cantered merrily

over the soft smooth turf of the racecourse, in company with Lord Keith,

the Colonel, and Conrade

"Do you not like dancing?" inquired Lord Keith, when the canter was

over, and they were splashing through a lane with high hedges

"I'm not so unnatural," returned Bessie, with a ive one now Alick has been

telling ood many of

them"

"True," said Colonel Keith, "too many fetes come to be a heavy tax"

"That isa lad," added

Lord Keith

"Yes, but dear Alick is so full of consideration," said the sister,

eagerly "He does not get half the credit for it that he deserves,