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Towards Simeon's portal, held sacred to "The Keepers of the Keys of the Silent House," Kate Rice and Dr Britt set their faces at the appointed hour

"The plot thickens round the girl," began Britt, with a kind oflevity "Mrs Lambert has done it now!"

They had reached the comparative quiet of the cross-street "What has she done?"

"She has delivered her ewe-lamb over to this ancient wolf of Wall Street, ill eat her up for a Little Red Riding-hood I've been looking into Pratt's record He has a cheerful way, I' the them into the street He has become so sensitive to the sneers of the outsiders that he fears to be 'done' After getting all that a ive hiuards hi been deceived If there is any question of the : 'I knew So-and-so was a fraud I exposed her two years--or two ht here"

"The dreadful old irl know this?"

"I don't think she does, but she ought to I hate to see a nice girl, ouldwife, perverted to these unholy uses The crowning infae in the Sunday Blast--'Another Harpie Exposed'--and it will come, Mrs Rice, I am sure of it Pratt fairly fawns before her now She is his princess, his seeress, his chief jewel; but woe to her if she displeases him or fails to meet his requirements"

"You appall me, Dr Britt Some one should at least warn her"

"I've already done so; but with the ainst, the case seems hopeless Besides, she believes in herself--up to a certain point She'll never degenerate into one of those fru to the foolish women and tack-headed men, but she will certainly be corrupted If she marries Clarke her future will be woful She has entered in so far I don't see how she can retreat She is bound to keep on for his sake and her mother's sake"

"Is she in love with Clarke?"

"That I haven't been able to determine, but she is under his control, or she wouldn't be here"

With these gloo-roo of the master of the house