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276 one day by means of an illegible note, scrawled with a blunt pencil, on the back of an old letter, that her beggarly friend the poet came to see her altogether too often; that he was determined she never should marry a crack-brained rhymester; and that before the sacrifice became too painful she would be so good as to dismiss Mr. Benvolio. This was accompanied by an intimation, more explicit than gracious, that he opened his money bags only for those who deferred to his incomparable wisdom. Scholastica was poor, and simple, and lonely; but she was proud, for all that, with a silent pride of her own, and her uncle's charity, proffered on these terms, became intolerably bitter to her soul. She sent him word that she thanked him for his past liberality, but she would no longer be a charge upon him. She said to herself that she could work; she had a superior education; many women, she knew, supported themselves. She even found something inspiring in the idea of going out into the world of which she knew so little, to seek her fortune. Her great desire, however, was to keep her situation a secret from Benvolio, and to prevent his knowing the sacrifice she was making for him. This it is especially that proves she was proud. It so befell that circumstances made secrecy possible. I don't know whether the Countess had always an idea of marrying Benvolio, but her unquenchable vanity still