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290 utterly forgotten that I had faithfully promised her to ask you to give it to Alfred. I need not tell you that I assured her you would." "My dearest Adelaide, you promised what is utterly out of my power." "Oh, you wish to make a favour of it, do you? Well, I will beg so prettily"—and joining her beautiful hands, and laying them on his arm—"Pray do; I have quite set my heart upon it." "But the borough is as good as Edward's; it has always been considered his." "Yes—I do not doubt it—he will rule you in that as in every thing else. If I had known my wishes were in opposition to Mr. Lorraine's, I should have known it was in vain to express them." "My dearest Adelaide, how can you say so?" "You know it is the truth—that every body laughs at the absurd authority your brother has over you. Much as it has mortified me, I should never have mentioned the subject; but to find myself so completely a cipher when opposed to him, I must own I do feel it." "But, Adelaide, this is my brother's great step in public life: a borough—" "Excuse my interruption; but it must make