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"I am twenty, and I have been often snubbed," I said, cal what I please"

"And what are you going to please?"

"I shall go to Claridge's until I can look about me"

He moved uneasily

"But have you no relations--no one ill take care of you?"

"I believe none My mother was nobody particular, you know--a Miss Tonkins by name"

"But your father?" He sat do on the sofa beside me; there was a puzzled, a him

"Papa? Oh, papa was the last of his family They were decent people, but there are no more of them"

He pushed one of the cushions aside

"It is an iirl--completely alone I cannot allow it I feel responsible for you After all, it would do very well if you married me I am not particularly domestic by nature, and should be very little at home, so you could live here and have a certain position, and I would coht"

One could not say if he was ood of you," I said, without any irony "But I like freedoht be such a bore----"

He leaned back and laughed merrily

"You are candid, at any rate!" he said

Mr Barton ca late Immediately after, with the usual ceremony, the butler entered and pompously announced, "Dinner is served, sir" How quickly they recognize the new ave allery to the banqueting-hall, and there sat down at the small, round table in the middle, that always looks like an island in a lake

I talked nicely at dinner I was dignified and grave, and quite frank Mr Carruthers was not bored The chef had outdone hi to be kept on I never felt so excited inlamp, after dinner, in the library, a book of silly poetry in my lap, when the door opened and he--Mr Carruthers--came in alone, and walked up the room I did not open my eyes He looked for just a minute--how accurate I am! Then he said, "You are very pretty when asleep!"