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It was exactly what every one was thinking, but it seemed to have fresh

force when it struck thethat her observation told upon those around her, becaht

"It really is dreadful to have sent those little girls there without any

one knohat anybody does to them," she repeated

"It makes even Alick co round on him

"Why," returned Alick, " lady in for the scrape, that it is just as well to try to get her

out of it In fact, I think we have all sat with our hands before us

in a shamefully cool ery"

"When it co us with coolness, Captain Keith, the

matter becomes serious," returned Colin

"It does become serious," was the answer; "it is hard that a person

without any natural adviser should have been allowed to run headlong, by

force of her own best qualities, into the hands of a sharper I do

not see how a

so any worse"

"If you can," said Colonel Keith

"I verily believe," said Alick, turning round upon him, "that the worse

it is for her, the more you enjoy it!"

"Quite true," said Ermine in her mischievous way; "it is a true case of

man's detestation of clever woreat ordeal of the woodcuts You and I are e her much better"

"I have no desire to be present," returned the Colonel; "I have no