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"I recollect!" he repeated, just as before "It was upon the back

piazza at Ridgeley, after breakfast on that war,

when the air was a silvery haze, and there was no dew upon the

roses I, too, have grown older--I trust, wiser and stronger since I

talked so largely of my career--what I hoped to be and to do When

did you see her--Miss Aylett," abruptly, and with a total change of

ht Rosa, complacently, the while her

co "He can never shut his

heart inexorably against me after this"

Aloud, she replied after an instant's hesitation designed to prepare

him for as to follow--"I ith Mabel for several days last

May We have not met since"

"She is alive--and well?" he asked, anxiously

An inexplicable soht

"She is--or hen I last heard news of her; we do not

correspond She does not live at Ridgeley now"

There she stopped, before adding the apex to the nicely graduated

climax

"Not live with her brother! I do not understand"

"Have you not heard of her e?"

"No!"