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 thought, "he shews that he looks upon me as a friend, or he would not have shaken hands in that way." And she rose from luncheon in a flutter of happiness and shyness.

"And so you are really all going to-morrow to the Marble Hall fête?" said Blanche, as her guests began to disperse. "That Baroness has conquered at last; I can imagine it must be difficult to withstand that very imperious lady."

"Well," said Mrs. Hopkinson, "I am sure it is the last thing I wish, but John fancies it will be amusing! and then that Miss Monteneros, whom my girls will like so much, pressed them to come just to one of their fêtes, and she is so fond of little Charlie, that somehow I can't refuse her—though I did not quite know what she meant by saying it would be 'a tedious brief scene, and very tragical mirth, hot ice and wonderous strange snow.' But Rose says she was only quoting Shakespeare, and, of cousecourse [sic], what Shakespeare