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Hetta was standing alone in a corner, near to herto Mr Booker, with her eyes fixed on the awful tranquillity of the Emperor's countenance, when Marie Melmotte timidly crept up to her and asked her how she was Hetta, probably, was not very cordial to the poor girl, being afraid of her, partly as the daughter of the great Melirl hom her brother had failed to run away; but Marie was not rebuked by this 'I hope you won't be angry with raciously She could not be angry with the girl for speaking to her, feeling that she was there as the guest of the girl's mother 'I suppose you know about your brother,' said Marie, whispering with her eyes turned to the ground

'I have heard about it,' said Hetta 'He never told me himself'

'Oh, I do so wish that I knew the truth I know nothing Of course, Miss Carbury, I love him I do love him so dearly! I hope you don't think I would have done it if I hadn't loved him better than anybody in the world Don't you think that if a girl loves a ?'

This was a question that Hetta was hardly prepared to answer She felt quite certain that under no circumstances would she run aith a man 'I don't quite know It is so hard to say,' she replied

'I do What's the good of anything if you're to be broken-hearted? I don't care what they say of me, or what they do to me, if he would only be true toabout it?' This also was a question difficult to be answered Since that horridon which Sir Felix had stumbled home drunk,--which was now four days since,--he had not left the house in Welbeck Street till this evening He had gone out a few minutes before Lady Carbury had started, but up to that tiet up till dinner-time, would coet back to his bedroom, where he would smoke and drink brandy-and-water and complain of headache The theory was that he was ill;--but he was in fact utterly cowed and did not dare to show himself at his usual haunts He are that he had quarrelled at the club, aware that all the world knew of his intended journey to Liverpool, aware that he had tumbled about the streets intoxicated He had not dared to show hirown upon him from day to day Now, fairly worn out by his confine, if possible, to find consolation with Ruby Ruggles 'Do tell me Where is he?' pleaded Marie