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164 heard in the village that Squire Bashpoole and his wife and daughter were going to Italy in his company.

"It is too late," she said bitterly—"too late, Martha. Oh, what shall I do?"

"I'd ride over to Squire Bashpoole's and ask plain out-and-out to see my husband if I were you, Mistress Aske."

"I can't do that, Martha. If he refused before Jane Bashpoole, I think it would kill me."

"You be full o' pride yet, ma'am. Can't you write a letter, then?"

"Yes, I can do that. But if it goes to Bashpoole Manor House, they will never give him it."

"Nay-a! nay-a! Gentlefolks wouldn't do a thing like that! Then send it to Aske Hall; I'll warrant he'll go back there before he leaves England, if it only be for an hour or two."

This plan appeared to Eleanor the best. She wrote a few penitent lines, and asked her husband to come and see her and to bring her forgiveness with him. She addressed her letter to Aske Hall, and Mrs. Parsons, the house-keeper,