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80, and sunned himself in the presence of one so unconsciously charming. Her enthusiasm about books, and pictures, and landscapes, her ignorance of the ways of the world, her frankness in asking information, her evident pleasure in every thing he said to her, were dangerous to the peace of mind of a briefless barrister with all the world certainly before him, but still a long way off.

Lady Gower had thought she had given her niece sufficient warning when she had said to her a day or two after her arrival: "Lady Darlington trusts that I will not put any nonsense into your head or let any one else do it, so I need only tell you that, with the exception of Lord Maringale, and Sir Harry Overton, and Mr. Seymour, there is not an eligible person at Gower's Court. As for the others, whatever they may say, you know it means nothing. Mr. Staunton, for instance, is well enough to pass an hour with, but he has nothing and neither have you, and he knows it. I only speak to you because you are so utterly inexperienced; a year hence you will see these things for yourself."

"Oh! I am safe enough, dear aunt," said Eveline with a laugh and a little sigh, "you need not tell me to take care of my heart." She thought her engagement, uncomfortable as it was, was defensive armour sufficient for all her requirements.