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Rh hates herself for loiking a king's man, that's what it is!"

"Indeed!" said the young lieutenant, with a laugh. Then I assure you, Tom, she's vastly welcome to transfer her liking to some one else; for it's wasted on me!"

Tom scanned the speaker's face narrowly, and then drew a long breath of relief.

"You speak as if it was truth," said he, at last, in a muttering tone. "Then, maybe, sir," he went on, with deep earnestness, still keeping an anxious gaze upon Tregenna's face, "maybe you don't know where she is now?"

He seemed to wait with breathless eagerness for the answer.

"Most surely I do not," replied Tregenna, promptly, "if she be not at Hurst Court, where I saw her near ten days ago."

Tom shook his head.

"She ben't there now, sir. Nobody hereabouts has a notion where she's got to; so I thought as maybe it was you had spirited her away."

"God forbid!" said Tregenna, heartily. "My good fellow, set your mind at rest. If