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 overcome; and though Mr. Harcourt is a good-natured gentleman-like young man, he is not to be compared to Mr. Greydon, and, moreover, he seems to me to sing out of tune. Rose will pass a life of accompaniments; and she must be very much in love, to change the time and the key of 'Ah, si ben mio,' as she did last night, and yet to thank Mr. Harcourt for the signal failure he made of it at last."

"And what is to become of your friend Mrs. Hopkinson when you have married off both her daughters, and her husband is again gone to sea?"

"Ah, poor old dear! I have been fretting about her very much, and with all my imagination, Aunt Sarah, I have not yet imagined a fate that satisfies me for my darling old Hop. I should like her to be near baby, she understands him so thoroughly; and if she would take care of him, I could take care of her. It is a pity that Chesterton is not semi-detached, that she had part of it. A semi-detached castle would be a novelty."