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 now bringing herself to the conviction that the Baron's wealth was another falsity, and that her fortune had been, by some artifice, connected with those parchments, placed in his power. "And I have not a relation nor a friend at hand whose aid I can demand, I live in a prison disguised as a palace, and take my share in the foolery that is to deceive the bystanders. But I will not lure others into the ruin that may have overtaken me. If that man's eyes cannot be opened, his mother shall be warned. How that woman's honesty warmed me, I could have hugged her. I think I like my Aunt better since she has become openly uncivil, there is truth in that, and I suppose I shall have enough of it to satisfy me."

But there she was mistaken. The Baron arrived from the city and was for some time closeted with his wife, and when they all met at a very uncomfortable dinner, the old caressing manners were resumed. Rachel was, "dear child," and "lady fair," and "sweet thing," at every moment, and when