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230 clownish and awkward, while Mr. Lufton was giving out the same small talk which he had before presented to ﬁve in her hearing, but which to Amy was quite new and original, for she listened with apparent pleasure, she thought his star was at last in the ascendant. A child, to be sure!—Lufton had always liked chits in pinafores;—but a lovely child, an author's daughter, and a very charming musician. She would be a delightful neighbour as Mra Lufton if her old friend could win her; the children were taking to her at once. A project entered her head that it would be very nice to get Miss Staunton to come to her as a governess and companion Though Amy was very young, Mra Troubridge's children were all under eight, and there could be no doubt that they could learn from her all they required to know. This would rescue the poor girl from the Vandals amongst whom she had been thrown, and also give herself a permanent and,pleasant companion, and Mr. Lufton great opportunities for seeing Amy beyond what young Lindsay could have.

Amy liked Mrs. Troubridge's manner very much. It was new to her be a little fussed over—to have a practised and tasteful hand adjusting her collar and assisting her to arrange her hair. And when Mrs. Troubridge followed