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Rh I dare say that you care as little for the banquet as I do." They easily reached the window, to the no small joy of the elderly gentleman, who, now that he was rid of his troublesome charge, thought that he himself could reach the royal presence; and to lose his chance of a smile from the king or queen was a dreadful thing. Lord Harvey, after seeing them securely seated, volunteered his services in procuring some sort of refreshment, so that Lady Marchmont was left alone with her new acquaintance. She was scarcely pretty, but looked so young, so delicate, and the soft colour came and went in her cheek with such sweet shyness, that Henrietta found herself every moment more and more interested. At first she had great difficulty in bringing about a conversation, the stranger was ignorant of the topics of the day, and very timid. But Lady Marchmont had a fascination about her it was impossible to resist, and they soon began talking with both ease and pleasure. Suddenly the stranger broke off abruptly in what she was