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In spite of his lameness, the Major had opened the door before Pal and inquiry were cut short by the young man's breathless question: "Is she here?"

"Who?"

"My wife--hter, sweet Aurelia! Ah! it was my one hope"

"Co how fearfully pale he grew "What has befallen you, and where is my sister?"

"Would that I knew! I trusted to have found her here; but now, sir, you will come with me and find her!"

"I do not understand you, sir," said the Major severely, "nor how you are concerned in the hter is the wife of your uncle, Mr Belamour, and if, as I fear, you bear the marks of a duel in consequence of any levity towards her, I shall not find it easy to forgive"

"On ," said the youth, raising a face full of frank innocence: "Your daughter is my wife, e of my uncle I was married to her in his clothes, in the darkened roo the same!"

"Was this your promise?" Betty exclaimed

"Miss Delavie, to the best of my ability I have kept e spoken withman," said the Major sternly "If all be not ith my innocent child, I shall kno to demand an account"

"Sir," said the youth: "I swear to you that she is the same innocent esture of earnest entreaty, "blame me as you will, only trace her"