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84 dislike, when the packet with the handsome ornaments arrived.

Lady Eveline took them to her aunt, determining to confide in her, and to implore her assistance to get free.

At first Lady Gower was astonished at the idea of her brother embarrassing himself to get such expensive ornaments for Eveline, especially as she had written that Lord Martingale had left Gower's Court; but when she heard the girl's confused and hesitating confession of where they came from, and what right Mr. John Derrick had to send them, her countenance cleared, and she took a very cheerful view of the whole proceeding. I was astonishing how differently Lady Gower looked on the Derricks when she heard of the formal proposal accepted by her brother on Eveline's behalf.

"I never heard of Darlington doing a wiser thing," said she. "Upon my word, Eveline, I am delighted to hear this, though it was not fair to keep-me in the dark so long."

"But you laugh at them all," said Eveline.

"I laugh at everything and everybody, as you know very well; and besides, I did not know at the time of the connection likely to be formed, and that was your fault. You sly thing, coming to me so young and innocent, to be introduced