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"But I say that you arethat I made aith him"

"Not at all," was the reply; "but I repeat that it is your business to ascertain what has become of him The responsibility rests upon you"

"Upon me!" rejoined the first voice "And what about you? Your position is a pretty fishy one if it comes to that"

"What!" roared the other "Do you insinuate that Icolloquy I had stood gaping with sheer astonish into a chair, set my elbows on my knees and slapped my hands over my ears; and thus I must have re of a door behindto my feet and turned in some embarrassment (for I must have looked unspeakably ridiculous) to confront the soirl, who, as she stood with her hand on the knob of the door, saluted lance I noted how perfectly she s Black-robed, black-haired, with black-grey eyes and a grave, sad face of ivory pallor, she stood, like one of old Terborch's portraits, a harmony in tones so low as to be but a step removed from monochrome Obviously a lady in spite of the worn and rusty dress, and soht brows hinted at a spirit that adversity had hardened rather than broken

"I ," she said; and as she spoke a certain softening at the corners of the austere mouth reminded me of the absurd position in which she had founddelay was of no consequence whatever; that I had, in fact, been rather glad of the rest; and I was beginning souely to approach the subject of the invalid when the voice froain broke forth with hideous distinctness

"I tell you I'll do nothing of the kind! Why, confound you, it's nothing less than a conspiracy that you're proposing!"

Miss Bellingham--as I assurily, as well she ht; but, as she reached the door, it flew open and a sed man burst into the room

"Your father is mad, Ruth!" he exclaimed; "absolutely stark mad! And I refuse to hold any further communication with hi," Miss Bellingham replied coldly