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92 Elizabeth bit her lips. "Mr. Twisden, I must speak plainly. It will be the interest of those who can influence him to prevent his following me, or making any other inquiries than through you. He will be reminded that I was always a strange, erratic, wilful girl, and that to attempt to coerce me would only cause an open scandal. Write to him by all means—I wish you to do so. You will find that he is only too ready to allow his responsibility to devolve upon you."

"But—but I am not sure that I am ready to undertake the responsibility. It is really not a matter to be settled in this offhand way. If you were going with a—a sort of duenna, or aged companion, it would be different; but, at your age, to fly off to Paris, alone—no, my dear Miss Shaw, pray think better of it. I cannot be party to such a thing—I cannot, indeed."

"Then you will deprive me of the comfort of writing to you—that is all. You will snap the one link with the past for some years to come."

"But do pray think of how the world will regard such an unheard-of step! "

"The world need know nothing of it. I have left Farley. I am visiting, or I have gone abroad. That is all they need learn."

Mr. Twisden looked really distressed. "Take your maid with you. Do oblige me so far. Let me be able to tell your uncle that. When you have settled where you will live, you can send her back, if you insist on the strange fancy of being unknown; but, at least, let her travel with you, and remain with you until you are settled in some respectable house."