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240 confidence of Edith's docility and intelligence, and hope grew strong within her that Heaven would protect a creature so innocent and so helpless.

Fanny started from a short, but deep, slumber, as the sunshine came full on the window, and hurried up, to make the needful preparations. The room was prepared, and breakfast ready before their guest arrived, but even then, as Fanny had anticipated, her mother was not come down, and this gave her an opportunity for the conversation she had planned with Mr. Bennett. He took a seat by the window, and entered at once into conversation. But the thoughts of his young hostess, after the first civilities had passed were too busy to enable her to sustain her part, and her visitor at last become silent, evidently a little vexed at the failure of all his efforts to encourage her—Suddenly making a strong resolve to subdue her feelings, Fanny rose from the table where she had been seated, and, approaching Mr. BennetBennett [sic], said, in a faltering voice "Sir, I