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Betty caught at this, though there was no doubt that the e e the dancing irls from fourteen to seventeen, the elder ones in mob caps, those with more pretensions to fashion, with loose hair Their twelve curtsies were h their lashes at the visitor, but no such soft brown eyes as Aurelia's were a them

"Madame," said Betty, "may I be permitted to ask the ladies a question?" She spoke it low, and in French, and her excellent accent won Madame's heart at once Only Madame trusted to Mademoiselle's discretion not to put mysteries into their minds, or they would be all tete montee

So, as discretely as the occasion would permit, Betty asked whether any one had seen or heard Lady Belle speak of having seen any one--a young lady?

Half-a-dozen tongues broke out, "We thought it all Lady Belle's whi, but Madame's awful little hand waved silence, as she said, "Speak then, Miss Staunton"

"I know none of Lady Belle's secrets, ma'am--ask Miss Howard"

Miss Howard looked sulky; and a little eager, black-eyed thing cried, "She said it was an odious girl whoeon of an old house, and is going to send beyond seas, because she uise"

"Fie, Miss Crawford, you know nothing about it"

"You told me so, yourself, Miss Howard"

"I never said anything so foolish"

"Hush, young ladies," said Mada, I request you to speak"

"It would be a great kindness," said Betty "Might I ask the favour of seeing Miss Howard in private?"

Mada,her

"I do not like asking you to betray your friend's confidence," said Betty

"Oh, as to that, I'm not her friend, and I believe she has talked to a half-a-dozenlady's sister," said Betty "We are afraid she has fallen into unkind hands; and I should be very thankful if you could help me to find her Where do you think Lady Belle saw her?"

"I thought it was in some old house in Hertfordshire," said Miss Howard, more readily, "but I am not sure; for it was last Sunday, which she spent with her reat secret that she had seen the girl that had taken in Sir Amyas Belamour, as contracted to herself, to uise, and then had set the house a-fire Belle had got soirl, and then she went on about her being not pretty"