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is most kind of you, Mr. Ripley, to take me to this literary soirée and give me the entree in London, but who are these people? And why is this George Eliot criticized for living with a Mr. Lewes?'

'Very few know who 'George Eliot' is—they only know the rather stark and grim short stories that are published over this name in "Blackwood's." But I, Miss Bardeen, having your critical career well to heart, have ferreted out this dawning wonder and am now taking you to see her.'

'' ' Her? ' ''

'Her. The scandal—if any one could so call it—is now self-evident. Her name is Marian Evans, but we shall call her Mrs. Lewes, and the future may very possibly know something of her as George Eliot.'

'And Mr. Lewes? Does she—er—just for fun?'

'No, indeed, the highest principles. You see, his wife ran away once and he took her back. Then she ran away again, but he couldn't divorce her because he had once forgiven her. Such is English law. Then he met this slow-moving, solemn woman of genius, and they agreed to consider themselves married and let the world think of them as it pleases. They need each other. Her sombre cast of mind gives poise to his high-strung nature. She withstrains, ennobles,