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 me and my beau-père, he must have a low opinion of the manners of the Chestertons. Do you suppose he went back to town?"

"I feel sure somehow that we shall see him in the course of the day," said Aileen, with a placid satisfied smile. "But you must not call Alfred odious any more," she whispered.

"I never did, I said that the Colonel Hilton of my imagination was odious; but I like Alfred, who is to make my Aileen the happiest wife in the world, except her sister; and I shall soon begin to love him. But now I must write to Lord Chesterton."

"Oh! it is to be a secret, Blanche, for a few days."

"Yes, I know, dear, all marriages are secrets, till everybody has been told of them; but Lord Chesterton must be enlightened for the good of my character; and like all men embarked in great affairs, he loves a small confidence." So Blanche sat down and wrote:

"My dear Lord Chesterton. Your visit to-day was so unsatisfactory both to you and