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Rh An Englishman is such a rarity here, that he ought to be public property." Mr. Spenser wished the fair intruder at the devil, at least. Emily felt thankful to her; for Edward at that moment approached to say good night. The pulses of her heart were like the chords of an instrument strung to their highest pitch. She bade him farewell with equal kindness and gaiety, and turned away to waltz with one of their other visitors. She did not see him leave the room, but she heard the door close after him; that slight noise fell like a dead weight upon her ear. At first she listened without understanding what her partner was saying. Again the pride of concealment came to her assistance, and her gay voice and laugh startled Lady Mandeville. She looked earnestly at Emily—the bright eye, the flushed colour, the unusual vivacity, betrayed more than it concealed. "I was wrong," thought she, "In supposing she felt little, because she controlled it—she has more self-command than I gave her credit for. The desire of hiding a disappointment is one great step towards conquering it altogether. My part must be to observe her as little as possible. I always did, and always