Page 109 (1/2)

The fall came, and Mabel wrote detailed descriptions of the

beautiful home Herbert had prepared for her; wrote,and animation, of the new and precious hopes of

happiness held out to her loving heart in the prospect of what the

spring would give into her ar to her for the winter, or for an indefinite period, the

bounds of which were to be set only by her beloved relative's

wishes The oh to the foster-mother's heart

and patience, even while she believed the knowledge of it to be

confined to herself She could still hold up her head bravely a

her kindred and acquaintances, and talk of the "dear child's" good

fortune and content theenerous husband had

bestowed upon her; could still hint at the instability of her own

plans, and the possibility that she ht, at any day or hour,

deterhter" into

what the latter represented was not an unpleasant exile

An end was put to this innocent deception--for, if any deception can

be termed innocent, it is surely that by which he who practises it

is hiuile was then arrested by a

story repeated to her by her indignant hosts, as having eiven expression, publicly, at a

large dinner-party, to her amazement and pity at the self-delusion

under which "poor, dear Mrs Sutton" labored, in expecting to take