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"If I am, it is you who have made me so," she retorts, with quick passion, for which she despises herself an instant later

"Nay, not I," he rejoins, "but what my words have unconsciously conveyed to you Do not blaht you, as well as every one else here, knew of Adrian's sentiard to Mrs Talbot"

This is too ht, Florence casts a glance of anger and defiance in his direction, and, sweeping past hiht

It is an early party, all things considered, and Dora Talbot, going to her room about two o'clock, stops before Florence's door and knocks softly thereon

"Coently

"I have just stopped for a moment to express the hope that you are not ill, dearest," says s toward her "How early you left us! I shouldn't have kno early only that Mr Dynecourt told me Are you sure you are not ill?"

"Not in the least, only a little fatigued," replied Florence cal coned over everybody, darling Nobody could hope even to divide the honors of the evening with you Your acting was simply superb"

"Thank you," says Florence, who is not in bed, but is sitting in a chair drawn near the , through which the ing white dressing-gown thatloosely round her shoulders

"What a char it has been!" exclai her arms on the back of a chair "I hardly knohen I have felt so thoroughly happy" Florence shudders visibly "You enjoyed yourself, of course?" continues Dora "Everyone raved about you You made at least a dozen conquests; one or half a one--" with a careful hesitation in her manner intended to inificant ly

"I think one really honest lover is worth a dozen others," she says, her voice treained one to-night?"

Florence's whole soul see on her cousin's answer Dora sirows a shade paler She is playing for a high stake, and fears to risk a throw lest it may be ventured too soon