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Rh justice she owed to herself. There are some offences which it is an unworthy weakness to forget.

She put back her hood, and allowed the fresh air to blow upon her face. She forced herself to mark the beautiful and radiant hues that the noon-rays flung over every melting icicle; and in a short while was able to speak to her brother, and turned the conversation on what sort of a home they should find in the English farm-house to which they were going.

They had not much time for fancying or guessing. They left the forest; and, after passing through a narrow lane, from whose warm and southern aspect the frost had almost disappeared, they arrived at a large low dwelling, to which Arden welcomed them as to that of his brother-in-law. A rosy child opened the gate which looked upon the yard, at whose entrance was a pond, where a flock of ducks were catching the sunshine upon their brown-and-white wings, while their throats took a still richer shade of green. The buildings formed a square. Opposite the house was a roomy barn, whose open doors shewed a thresher hard at work, and the sound of his flail resounded on every side. Then came a range of stables, with a shed filled with carts; and the right was occupied by a cow-house, whose tenants