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 to stand up; and Tom Musgrave’s curiosity was appeased on seeing Mr. Howard come forward and claim Emma’s hand.

‘That will do as well for me,’ was Lord Osborne’s remark, when his fricnd carried him the news, and he was coutinually at Howard’s elbow during the two dances.

The frequency of his appearance there was the only unpleasant part of the engagement, the only objection she could make to Mr, Howard. In himself, she thought him as agreeable as he looked ; though chatting on the commonest topics, he had a sensible, unaffected way of expressing himself, which made them all worth hearing, and she only regretted that he had not been able to make his pupil's manners as unexceptionable as his own. The two dances seemed very short, and she had her partner's authority for considering them so. At their conclusion, the Osbornes and their train were all on the move.

‘We are off at last, said his lordship to Tom; ‘How much longer do you stay in this heavenly place ?—till sunrise ?’

‘No, faith! my lord; I have had quite enough of it, i assure you. I shall not show myself here again when I have had the honour of attending Lady Osborne to her carriage. I shall retreat in as much secrecy as possible to the most remote corner of the house, where I shal! order a barrel of oysters, and be famously snug.’

‘Let me see you soon at the castle, and bring me word how she looks by daylight.’