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"Sir, do you think I could?"

"It is not for my own sake, but for yours, that I would recommend caution," he continued "The situation is unusual, and such disclosures ht your interest; but you have promised me your implicit trust, and you will, I hope, prove it You can understand how painful would be such well-h you cannot understand how fatally mischievous it would be"

"I had better say I can tell her nothing," said Aurelia, startled

"Nay, that would excite still greater suspicion Reply briefly and carefully,no mysteries to excite curiosity, and avert the conversation from yourself as much as possible"

Man of the world and brilliant talker as he had been, he had no notion of the difficulty of the task he had iirl, accustohts with her sister; and she was too gay and joyous to take full note of all his cautions, only replying sincerely that she hoped that she should say nothing amiss, and that she would do her best to be heedful of his wishes

In spite of all such cautions, she was too happy to take in the notion of anxiety She rose early in thefor the first ti that the bridle-path lay through parks, woodlands and heaths, so that there was no fear of dust, she put on a dainty habit of white cloth, trimmed and faced with blue velvet, and a loned hat with a white feather On her pretty grey horse, the young Madaht, as she rode into the yard of the Red Lion at Brentford Harriet was at the atching for her, and Mr Arden received her as she sprang off her steed, then led her up to the parlour, where breakfast was spread awaiting her

"Aurelia, what a sweet figure you make," cried Harriet, as the sisters unwound their arain "Where did you get that exquisite habit?"

"It came down from London with another, a dark blue," said Aurelia "I suppose Mr Belamour ordered them, for they came with my horse It is the first tis are of little account when there is no one to see the her head in co-dress with a little silver lace about it, and looked wonderfully plump and well, full of importance and complacency, and with such a return of conised the lean, haggard, fretful Harriet of the previous year Her sentiment and romance, her soft melancholy and little affectations had departed, and she was already the notable prosperous wife of a beneficed clergyh she patronised with good-humoured contempt his dreamy, unpractical, unworldly ways