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I opened my trunk and took out a robe of ivory-tinted crepe It was made with almost severe simplicity, and was unadorned, save by a soft ruffle of old Mechlin lace round the neck and sleeves Amy examined it critically

"Now, you would have looked perfectly ghastly in this last night, when you were as pale and hollow-eyed as a sick nun; but to-night," and she raised her eyes to my face, "I believe you will do Don't you want the bodice cut lower?"

"No, thanks!" I said, sers--they will expose neck enough for half-a-dozen other wohed

"Do as you like," she returned; "only I see your gown has short sleeves, and I thought you ht like a square neck instead of that little simple Greek round But perhaps it's better as it is The stuff is lovely; where did you get it?"

"At one of the London eetting cold"

She laid the dress on the bed, and in doing so, perceived the antique-looking book with the silver clasps which I had left there

"What's this?" she asked, turning it round to discover its name "'Letters of a Dead Musician!' What a shivery title! Is it ?" "Not at all," I replied, as I leaned comfortably back in an easy-chair and sipped my tea "It is a very scholarly, poetical, and picturesque work Signor Cellini lent it to me; the author was a friend of his"

A and half-serious expression

"Say now--take care, take care! Aren't you and Cellini getting to be rather particular friends--so a little beyond the Platonic, eh?"

This notion struckfor one instant to think what I was saying, I answered with a that I really knew nothing about it: "Why, my dear, Raffaello Cellini is betrothed, and he is a most devoted lover"

A moment after I had uttered this assertion I was surprised atthat Cellini was betrothed? What did I know about it? Confused, I endeavoured to find so this unfounded and rash remark, but no words of explanation would come to ht be, for all I knew, a falsehood Amy did not perceive my embarrassment She was pleased and interested at the idea of Cellini's being in love