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 duty to try to get on, and that it won’t do for you to be romantic; but in future you must not misunderstand me, if I seem friendly. You misunderstood me this morning, did you not?”

“What made you think so?”

“Your look—your manner.”

“But look at me now—”

“Oh! you are different now: at present, I dare speak to you.”

“Yet I am the same, except that I have left the tradesman behind me in the Hollow: your kinsman alone stands before you.”

“My cousin, Robert; not Mr. Moore.”

“Not a bit of Mr. Moore. Caroline—”

Here the company was heard rising in the other room; the door was opened; the pony-carriage was ordered; shawls and bonnets were demanded; Mr. Helstone called for his niece.

“I must go, Robert.”

“Yes, you must go, or they will come in, and find us here; and I, rather than meet all that host in the passage, will take my departure through the window: luckily, it opens like a door. One minute only—put down the candle an instant—good-night! I kiss you because we are cousins; and, being cousins, one—two—three kisses are allowable. Caroline, good-night!”