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When Sir Patrick had coer Carbury had hurried up to see him in London, and had proffered him all kindness Would Sir Patrick and his wife and children like to go down to the old place in the country? Sir Patrick did not care a straw for the old place in the country, and so told his cousin in almost those very words There had not, therefore, beenSir Patrick's life But when the violent ill-conditioned old ain offered hospitality to theand her daughter,--and to the young baronet The young baronet had just joined his regiment and did not care to visit his cousin in Suffolk; but Lady Carbury and Henrietta had spent ahad been done to arded Henrietta had been altogether successful As regarded the , it ed that Carbury Hall had not quite suited her tastes

She had already begun to sigh for the glories of a literary career A career of sos of her early life,--she certainly desired 'Dear cousin Roger,' as she called hi her in these views She was a woman who did not care et up some mild excitement with the bishop, but the bishop had been too plain spoken and sincere for her The Priestaffes,--she had endeavoured to make up a little friendship with Lady Pomona,-- insufferably supercilious She had declared to Henrietta 'that Carbury Hall was very dull'

But then there had coed her opinions as to Carbury Hall, and its proprietor The proprietor after a feeeks followed them up to London, and hter's hand He was at that time thirty-six, and Henrietta was not yet twenty He was very cool;--so Henrietta declared to her mother that she had not in the least expected it But he was very urgent, and very persistent Lady Carbury was eager on his side Though the Carbury Manor House did not exactly suit her, it would do ad, she being then over forty, a irl But Henrietta had an opinion of her own She liked her cousin, but did not love him She was amazed, and even annoyed by the offer She had praised hi in her innocence never dreamed of such a proposition as this,--so that now she found it difficult to give an adequate reason for her refusal Yes;--she had undoubtedly said that her cousin was char in that way She did refuse the offer very plainly, but still with soested that she should take a few estion, she could say nothing stronger than that she was afraid that thinking about it would not do any good Their first visit to Carbury had been ain,--rain as far as her oishes were concerned; and when there had been cold, constrained, almost dumb in the presence of her cousin Before they left the offer was renewed, but Henrietta declared that she could not do as they would have her She could give no reason, only she did not love her cousin in that way But Roger declared that he by no means intended to abandon his suit In truth he verily loved the girl, and love with hi All this happened a full year before the beginning of our present story