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 place her confidence in Lord Melbury, while forced to exact that he himself should guard her secret. She felt as if cast upon a precipice, from which, though a kind hand might save, the least imprudence might precipitate her downfall. She struggled for fortitude, she prayed for patience. What, indeed, she cried, are any sufferings that Mrs. Ireton can inflict, compared with those I am flying? If I must submit to transient tyranny, or hazard incurring misery as durable as my existence,—can I hesitate to which I shall yield?

Hastily, now, she looked for the bell, and rang it repeatedly, till some one through the door demanded her orders.

"Acquaint Mrs. Ireton," she answered, "that I am ready to attend her to Brighthelmstone."

The door was almost instantly unlocked, and Mrs. Howel again appeared. "I deign not, young woman," she sternly said, "to enquire into the reasons, the arts, or the apprehensions that