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64 were the only things that had brought any change to her life at home, for her father was very irritable and her mother querulous, and both of them were a great deal older than herself. Her pleasures had been in reading and music, and her education had been but imperfect, at least so far as judgment and principles were concerned. She was a great novel-reader and built many castles in the air of a very romantic kind. She had intense pleasure in out-of-door life, which in the beautiful country about Darlington Castle was always attractive; and as all her pursuits and amusements had been solitary, she enjoyed the change to the bustle and life of a crowded watering-place, and felt the society of companions of her own age pleasant. Still she looked down on her friends too. She had heard the indignation with which her father and mother had spoken of Herbert's mesalliance with Miss Pennithorne, and wondered at their civility to this Manchester family.

After about a month's acquaintance, a convenient opportunity having presented itself, Mr. John Derrick made a formal proposal to the young lady. Lady Eveline was taken by surprise; she had never dreamt of such a thing as that this plebeian young man would fall in love with her; her heart was indifferent and