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"Where is Cornelia, Ava?" He asked the question with a quick glance round the room, as if he expected to find her present

"Cornelia is not at home to-day"

"Is she ever at ho--"

"Arenta's wedding! I a but Arenta's wedding Why the deuce! should my house be turned upside down and inside out for Arenta's wedding? Women have been married before Arenta Van Ariens, and women will be married after her What is all this fuss about?"

"You know--"

"Blessat least, that I have justup the street together, as if they two alone were in the world They never sawbut the before, John, and they will do it again Cornelia is a beautiful girl; it is natural that she should have a lover"

"It is very unnatural that she should choose for her lover the son ofGeneral Hyde When was he your enemy? How could he be your enemy?"

"When was he my enemy? Ever since the first hour we ton; often he accusedpartiality to certain officers in the army; only last year he preventedall his influence in favour of Joris Van Heemskirk If he has not done me more injury and more injustice, 'tis because he has not had the opportunity And you want ive Cornelia to his son! Yes, you do, Ava! I see it on your face You stretch ry man ever see? No, he cannot You feed your own suspicions, John You ht just as well link Cornelia's name with Rem Van Ariens as with Joris Hyde She is continually in Rem's company He is devoted to her She cannot possibly misunderstand his looks and words, she ht have seen theether at that table preparing the invitations for the wedding breakfast and ball; arranging the cards and favours--So happy! So pleasantly familiar! So confidential! I think Ree Hyde; and perhaps neither of therow to husbands"