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"Why, Zara dearest!" I replied "Of course I shall not think you unsociable I would not interfere with any of your pursuits for the world"

She looked at me with a sort of wistful affection, and continued: "But you h it may look churlish, still not even youbefore a witness; Casimir himself knows that, and keeps away frorateful wretch if I could not oblige you in so small a request I promise not to disturb you, Zara; and do not think for one moment that I shall be dull I have books, a piano, flowers--what o out; then I have letters to write, and all sorts of things to occupy me I shall be quite happy, and I shall not come near you till you call irl," she said; "I hate to appear inhospitable, but I know you are a real friend--that you will love me as much away froar curiosity which soive way to, hat they desire to see is hidden frohed

"The affairs of other people have never appeared so interesting to me that I have cared to bother myself about them," I replied "Blue- Beard's Chamber would never have been unlocked had I been that worthy man's wife"

"What a fine moral lesson the old fairy-tale teaches!" said Zara "I always think those wives of Blue-Beard deserved their fate for not being able to obey hiard to your pursuits, dear, while I arand piano in the drawing-room when you please, as well as the little one in your own rooan as much as you like"

I was delighted at this idea, and thanked her heartily She shtfully

"What happiness it hly!" she said "It fills you with enthusiasraphies of musical people; they all seeed each other every little bit of praise wrung from the world's cold, death-dooifted persons all struggling along, and rudely elbowing each other out of the way to hat? A few stilted co in the newspapers of the day, and a little clapping and shouting fro of ordinary minded persons, who only clap and shout because it is possibly the fashion to do so It is really ludicrous If the reat, it will live by itself and defy praise or blame