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"Can no one hinder it, sir? Cannot you?"

"As a last resource the poor youth cauardian whose wardship has hitherto been a dead letter, were indeed so utterly obdurate and helpless as had been represented"

"And you have the power?"

"So far as his father's will and the injunctions of his final letter to ive it, I have full power My consent is necessary to his e while still a ive it to his wedding a Mar"

"I was sure of it; and it is not true that they will be able to do without it?

"Without it! Have you heard any more? You pause I see--she wishes to declare me of unsound mind Is that what you mean?"

"So Nurse Dove said, sir," faltered Aurelia; "but it seemed too wicked, too monstrous, to be possible"

"I understand," he said "I thought there was an implied threat in my sweet sister-in-law's soft voice when she spoke of ainst that expedient After all, it is only till e, or till his stepfather returns, that we must keep the enchantress at bay Then the poor lad will be safe, providing always that she and her Colonel have not made a rake of him by that time Alas, what a wretch am I not to be able to do more for him! Child, you have seen him?"

"I danced with him, sir, but I was too much terrified to look in his face And I saw his cocked hat over the thorn hedge"

"Fancy free," muttered Mr Belamour "Fair exile for a cocked hat and diaain, nor his voice?"

"No, sir He scarcely spoke, and I was attending to hed, and then asked Aurelia for the passage in the Iliad where Venus carries off Paris in a cloud He thanked her so of co in Dorsetshire May I ask of you the favour of writing and begging hi likewise that my sister-in-law has been here"

To this invitation Dr Godfrey replied that he would deviate froress of his fahts there the next week; and to Aurelia's greater amazement, she was next requested to write a billet to the Mistresses Treforth in Mr Bela the of Dr Godfrey's visit