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event had certainly come to a startling climax. Even Lily herself, writing a dozen "Duchess of Dawnleighs," could not have imagined quite so serious a situation to balk the determination of her created heroines, as here had arrived to balk herself!

"Well, Lil," Laura said to her, as the girl got out of the sleigh. "I guess you won't run away to-day and leave us all in a fix—and spoil Jess's play. What do you think?"

"Oh, Laura! is poor Mike hurt?" cried the girl, and from that moment Lara thought better of her. For Lil showed she was not entirely heartless. She had thought first of the old coachman who had served her family for so many years, and who was even then probably helping her to get to Keyport and the expected performance of "The Duchess of Dawnleigh," against his own good sense.

"Here he comes, limping," said Laura, rather