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“, dame,” said Bertram the old forester of Linden to his wife, “once for all listen: it’s not many things, thou well know’st, that I would deny to thy asking: but, as for this notion, Anne, drive it clean out of thy head: root and branch lay the axe to it, the sooner the better; and never encourage the lass to think more about it. When she knows the worst, she’ll settle herself down to her crying; and when that’s over, all’s over; she submits; and all goes right. I see no good that comes of standing shilly shally, and letting the girl nurse herself with hopes of what must not be.”

“But Bertram, dear Bertram,” replied old Anne, “why not? could not our Kate live as