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Ermine had dropped all scruples about Rose's intercourse with other

children, and the feeling that she ht associate with them on equal

terms, perhaps, was the lad that companionship should render the little maiden more

active and childlike, for Edward's abstraction hadthe dreainative

child

No one welcomed the removal of these restraints more warmly than Lady

Temple She was perhaps the happiest of the happy, for with her there

was no drawback, no sorrow, no parting to fear Her first impulse, when

Colonel Keith came to tell her his plans, was to seize on hat and shawl,

and rush down to Mackarel Lane to kiss Ermine with all her heart, and

tell her that "it was theof her to have consented

at last, for nobody deserved so well to be happy as that dear Colonel;"

and then she clung to Alison, declaring that now she should have her all

to herself, and if she would only come to Myrtlewood, she would do her

very best to make her comfortable there, and it should be her home--her

home always

"In fact," said Ero to

Avoncester, I think youof

Alison Williams and Fanny Temple at the same time There has been quite