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The pretence of social converse had been given up before the friends

cleared the first field beyond the orchard Rosa's exquisite tact

witheld her fro commonplaces upon the attention of a mind

torn by suspense--distracted between disappointht her syrievous

strait They walked on swiftly, the one staring straight forward,

yet seeing nothing; the other, although thoughtful, losing not one

feature of the landscape--the light-gray sky, the encircling forest,

the yellow broo the hill-sides, the crooked fences,

lined with purple brush, golden-rod, black-bearded alder and su with scarlet berry cones and motley leaves It was her

principle and habit to seize upon whatever ht were

dropped in her way, and she had a taste for attractive bits of

scenery, as for melody There was no reason why the evil estate of

her companion should debar her from quiet enjoyment of the autu It was unpleasant to

see pain or grief Sh hunize these

facts But, in her soul, she despised the girl for her tacit

acquiescence in her brother's decree; contemned her yet more for her

partial credence of the ru these things into account, that Mabel was not

coe that had befallen her

since this hour yesterday, when she had exultingly proclaimed that