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68 "There cannot be the slightest doubt of its truth, sister; and I most heartily wish you joy of it," was the brother's reply, as, throwing down the paper, he kissed both her and Helen. Lady Rotheles had silently withdrawn, at which no one could wonder. "But how could they marry without my consent? I cannot fail to be glad that Mary, a poor, sickly creature, and completely on the old maids' list, should be taken off my hands; but still I think they ought not to have married till their arrival in England, that I might have seen things were done properly." "It is much better as it is, for the expence would have been overwhelming," said the earl, laughing, "seeing that you have not written your book; if you had, by the way, you would never have had a lord for a son-in-law, and now you have got one, and a very worthy one, too. I shall be delighted to have dear Mary for a neighbour. I always loved her, and pitied her, too; but that's all over now. She has married a worthy man, and will be a happy woman. Courage, sister; now you have got one lord, who knows but you may get another?" Helen became crimson, but it quickly receded, and left her pale as snow, but her expression was that of happiness in Mary's altered situation. "I was just thinking it possible I might, as you say, get another nobleman for another daughter. I