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She appeared not to hear this "I suppose it can be lived down," she said "To think of Uncle Joseph putting such a thing into the hands of those awful children!"

"But, Julia, you're eng----"

"Noble!" she said sharply

"Well, you are eng----"

Julia drew herself up "Different people s by that word," she said with severity, like an annoyed school-teacher "There are any nu to words; and if I used the word youhome to the faht I intended another"

"But, Julia----"

"Mr Cru man," she continued with the same primness "I liked him very much indeed I liked him very, very much I liked him very, very----"

"I understand," he interrupted "Don't say it any more, Julia"

"No; you don't understand! At first I liked him very much--in fact, I still do, of course--I' ht to be happy with, if he were only to be considered by himself I don't deny that I liked him very much indeed, and I don't deny that for several days after he--after he proposed to ht come of it But at that tiht of what ithere at ho--and friends--friends like you, Noble I hadn't thought what it would ive all this up And besides, there was so very i poor Mr Crum to the family, Noble, I hadn't--I hadn't----" She paused, visibly in some distress "I hadn't----"

"You hadn't what?" he cried

"I hadn't met his mother!"

Noble leaped to his feet "Julia! You aren't--you aren't engaged?"

"I ahtest--I certainly aled;half-lowed upon him

"Julia--Julia----" He choked "Julia, pro? Julia, pro"

"I will," she said quickly "What do you want me to do?"

Then he saw that it was his time to speak; that this was theand ask for the utmost he could hope from her