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"I mean," she explains at last, in a rather hurried way, "that I do not think it is good foruest to show hi in this play a alone with you It has been reht and avoid Mr Dynecourt"

"So I do," Florence adreat perspicacity"

"They even hinted to oes on deliberately, "that your dislike to hi your stage lover, instead of--Sir Adrian!"

It costs her an effort to utter these words, but the effect produced by the deadly pale, releases her hair frorasp, and rises quickly to her feet

"I don't knoho your gossips --do you hear? My dislike to Mr Dynecourt arises fros He is distasteful to me in ive occasion for surive hi his part to ht, dearest," responds Mrs Talbot sweetly She is a little afraid of her cousin, but still maintains her position bravely "It is always a mark of folly to defy public opinion Do not wait for hih your play with him alone, but tell him yourself to-allery so the day"

"Very well," says Florence; but her face still betrays dislike and disinclination to the course recommended "And, Dora, I don't think I wantso dreadfully"

This is a hint that she will be glad of Mrs Talbot's speedy departure; and, that lady taking the hint, Florence is soon left to her own thoughts

The next , directly after breakfast, she finds an opportunity to tell Mr Dynecourt that she will give hiallery to try over his part with her, as she considers it will be better, and more conducive to the smoothness of the piece, to learn any littleto either of them