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 ask you to sign a paper that I ought to have given you with the others; quite a form, but a very necessary form. Perhaps I have it about me; ah, yes; here it is," picking it out from a bundle of tracts, receipts of hospitals, &c. "It ought to be witnessed; I will ring for two of the servants."

"Stay, let me look at it first, Uncle."

"That's right, always look at a paper before you sign it; though whether my fashionable niece, Miss Monteneros, will be much the wiser for looking at a power of attorney I cannot say." He put it into her hand and again laid hold of the bell-rope.

"Do not ring, Uncle; I cannot sign it to-day," and she put it into her pocket.

"Ah, not to-day! Well, any day will do, but I should like to have the business settled."

"I have promised Mr. Bolland that I would not sign any paper till he had seen it," said Rachel, and she went to the window that she might not see the consternation