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168 strength to hear the worst, and then die upon the spot. She had not courage to look up. Lord Marchmont approached in his usual deliberate manner, seated himself in an arm-chair opposite,and said,— "I have some more than usually pleasant intelligence this morning—intelligence I was not authorised to communicate till within the last hour." Henrietta could scarcely believe her ears: there was any thing but anger or jealousy in the tones of his voice; and when, at last, she ventured to catch his eye, there was only his usual calm expression of self-complacency. "I have just seen," continued he, "Sir Robert Walpole, who has honoured me with a long and confidential conversation. I now completely comprehend his views." Bewildered as Henrietta felt, the quotation from the old ballad rose to her memory when she heard Lord Marchmont talk of comprehending Sir Robert's views,—