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 are all actors and actresses," she used to say, "and none of us quite up to our parts, though we act all day long."

This went on for two years. A month ago she came of age, and on her birthday, her uncle presented her with a splendid parure of opals and diamonds, ("false, of course," she thought to herself) and, at the same time, requested her to sign some dreary looking parchments, which he called "releases—mere forms; but they relieve me from all responsibility with regard to your fortune, and they make you a very independant young lady." From that day the tone of the family had visibly changed, she felt she was treated with neglect, more as the poor relation than the wealthy ward, and there was less disguise practised as to the Baron's speculations and money matters.

The manner in which she had been almost ordered to decoy Willis into the house had awakened suspicions, which her Aunt's change of countenance, when jestingly taxed with deceiving him, had confirmed; and she was