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284 haply attain the rank of Major; and with such expectations, so long nurtured, should she, even at the very period when, as she supposed, she might reasonably look forward to their consummation, suffer them to dissolve and fly from her as an empty dream, upon the appearance of a Harcourt? Certainly not.

Thus fixed in her resolution, the following morning, when breakfast was over, she sallied from her house. She had seen from an upper window, the warm, enraptured, persevering Harcourt at his station as on the day before; and, as she expected, immediately on seeing her, he advanced to meet her.

The air of fashion and nobility with which he introduced himself to her notice, might have spoke in his favour: pretensions, rank, and fortune alone, it might have been conceived, authorized the step.

"You are, madam," said he, bowing as he spoke, "doubtless the owner of that house."

"I am, sir," was the laconic answer. He added, "I was very rash, very precipitate in my conduct yesterday; I am painfully aware, that even the vehemence of feeling by which I was actuated cannot justify it." After a moment's pause, he continued; "I possess an independent fortune, entirely at my own disposal; my friends and