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He was surprised and not pleased, nevertheless, that Mabel retired

without other reply than a siht," said without temper,

or any evidence of excitehtest breath of reproof, would have brought her to his feet in a

paroxysm of tears, to implore pardon for her contumacy, and to

pro beyond his

control the while she offered no open resistance to his government

Was sorrowful shame, or her infatuation for the adventurer he cursed

in his heart by his gods, the influence that was petrifying her into

this unlovely caricature of her once bright and affectionate self?

She presented herself, unsummoned, in his study at the expiration of

the period she had designated, a pacquet in her hand, neatly done up

and sealed

"I will trouble you to direct it," was all she said, as she laid it

before him

"This is done of your own free will--remember!" he said,

impressively "In after years, should you be so unreasonable as to

regret it, there must be no misconception on the subject between us

If you wish, at this, the eleventh hour, to draw back, I shall not

oppose you"