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At Last MarionHarland 11480K 2023-09-01

She opened the social gae one to us, Mr Chilton We have often heard you spoken

of in the hbors, the Ayletts, of Ridgeley,----county Is it long since you

met or heard from them?"

"Some months, madam I hope they were in their usual health when you

last saw the her affirmative reply with a courteous bow, and the

assurance that he was "happy to hear it," Mr Chilton turned to

Rosa, and engaged her in conversation upon divers popular topics of

the day, all of which she was careful should conduct theeley, and his affectionate intirateful for her tact and

delicacy Her unaffected pleasure athim had been as

pleasant as it was unlooked-for, aware as he was, fro the rapture of their engage with her when it occurred The slander

that had blackened him in the esteem of his betrothed had, he

naturally supposed, injured his reputation beyond hope of retrieval

with her acquaintances Rosa, her bosom companion, could not but

have heard the whole history, yet met him with undiminished

cordiality, as a valued friend Either the Ayletts had been

unnaturally discreet, or the faith of the interesting girl in his

integrity was firined in the past Perhaps, too, since he was but e in the school of experience had been of

the sternest, he was not entirely insensible to the privilege of

proirl of

the season hanging upon his ar her undivided

attention to all that he said, indifferent to, or un notice she attracted