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46 "My young companion," rejoined Lady Mandeville, "shall go first—my nerves are the more serviceable of the two." Emily trembled to such a degree that Cecil supported her with difficulty to the boat, where the ladder terminated, and was kept firm by some stranger. However, the conviction on his mind was, that nothing could be more graceful than timidity in a woman. Lady Mandeville followed; and three minutes was the utmost time that elapsed before their little boat was floating down the stream. The strictest silence was preserved. At length the stranger said, in very patois-sounding Italian, "We can use our oars now." "How did you come so opportunely to our rescue?" "I will give you," returned Cecil, "no recital just at present. We must row for our lives, as they say on the Thames when they are rowing for 'the cup and the kiver.' " The light dip of the oars alone broke on the silence. Lady Mandeville was more anxious now the danger was over; and Emily was too much exhausted to speak: besides, to tell the truth, disappointment, however unreasonable it may seem, was the uppermost feeling in her