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104 "Well, I can drop a hint to Staunton," said Lady Gower.

"No, no," said Eveline, turning as pale as death. "Don't let him think so meanly of me as that he needs be afraid of me, or that you have no confidence in me. Oh aunt, you ought to consider me a little."

But Lady Gower was determined, and managed to give Staunton to understand that he had better discontinue his visits to —— street. About the same time he received the offer of a lucrative appointment at Sierra Leone, which Lady Gower had exerted all her influence to procure. He was getting on but slowly in his profession and was a little embarrassed in his circumstances, so that the offer was opportune. He had also felt that it was not safe to see so much of Lady Eveline Derrick, whom he knew now to be unhappy, so he closed with the offer hastily, and busied himself with preparations for his departure. His only sister regretted the step he took, but as he had behaved very liberally to her in making over all the slender patrimony he had inherited to add to her fortune, she was able to marry a young curate to whom she was engaged, and he felt satisfied that he had left her under the best of protection.

It was necessary to take leave of his London