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 told me enough, to shew me how fully your time has been occupied. I feel for the vexation you have suffered, but it is past, and I trust all may yet go well."

^Ir Stewart shook his head. "We had better not speak of it," said he, in a melancholy voice. "Well, we shall not speak of it then," said Mrs Mason; "I had rather speak of the boys. When did you hear of them? When are they to have a holiday at Gowan-brae?"

Having thus given a turn to the conversation, she endeavoured to keep it up with cheerfulness; and so far succeeded, that a stranger would have thought all the party in excellent spirits.

After dinner, as soon as the servant who attended them had left the room, Mr Stewart became absent and thoughtful. A pause ensued in the conversation, during which Mary kept her eyes anxiously fixed upon her father. Starting at length from his reverie, he turned to Mrs Mason, and said, "it was now time to give her a