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310 's eagerness and interest had satisfied her conscience, she could not help grieving to think of what Allan would feel; but if she had thought that Edith and her aunt were not willing to welcome her, she would have felt guilty with regard to Amy too. In a worldly point of view, it was a great chance for Amy to be taken up in this way by her wealthy brother, and to live in the beautiful house of Stanmore; but then she would be lost to Allan. Husband and wife speculated on the chances of the young people having come to an understanding, and being either engaged or married. Jessie thought it unlikely, as she had had no hint on the subject, while George thought a great deal might he done in three months, when the liking was mutual and the young people constantly together. Old letters were taken out and read over with particular attention, but no conclusion could be come to.

It was a strange letter that Jessie penned to Amy on the following day—full of apologies, congratulations, hope, fear, surmises, recollections, anticipations. Amidst her bewilderment, she could not help looking forward with pleasure to seeing Amy again if she accepted her brother's invitation, and hearing the news from home more fully and minutely than could be done by letter, for surely, though Jessie saw more distinctly than