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knee to present the missive to Janetta; by whom it was speedily read and communicated to her father, as he sat dumb-struck by his nephew's assurance.

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Lady Dinton is good enough to apologise, she said, "that her deep family affliction prevents her daughters and herself from coming to Harrals

to welcome-she writes, 'the daughter

of their dear Lady Wraysbury.''

Very kind,-very gracious, but scarcely necessary," was her father's stiff reply.

"But Lady Dinton adds, papa, that, connected as we are about to be by a second marriage between the families, there can be no obstacle to receiving us at Molyneux Castle, as soon as the state of your health will allow you to leave home for a day or two."

"Very kind,

very gracious." And he longed again to add-" but very unnecessary.'

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"If the dulness of a family circle do not appal you, my dear uncle," added Edgar, “you would confer a real favour on a real favour on my grand

mother and aunts, by bringing Netta to the Castle."

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"At a fitting time," primly replied Sir John,

the acquaintance will arise as a matter of

course.

"I do believe that the clay of which Midland county people are composed, is ten degrees colder than that of any other district!" cried Edgar, earnestly. "Even to be happy, we are content to wait for a fitting time! My uncle Dinton, for instance.-After a patience unheard of since the days of Jacob and Rachel, he is literally waiting for the month of February, to become the happiest of men, that decorum may not be violated in the colour of a coat!—And now, poor little Netta will perhaps have to spend the winter in no better company than the stone griffins on the terrace; because she must wait

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for a fitting time' to make acquaintance with two old maiden ladies and a dowager,-the worwho are

thiest women that ever breathed, dying to know and love her."

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No dispassionate spectator would have denied. that Edgar, planted in his hunting costume upon the hearth-rug, with his back turned to a fire that rivalled its brilliant colouring,—his cheeks glowing with exercise, and his eyes sparkling with animation,—afforded as handsome a specimen of the Great British sportsman, as ever found his way across country with the Pytchley, or conned his "Nimrod."-Or that Sir John Wraysbury, filling his green velvet lounging chair as amply as a Colchester oyster its shell, and in nature nearly as cold and as impassive, presented an admirable study for Doyle, as a personification of the Great British County Member, taking his ease.

But whatever he might look, he was, alas! far from easy. And though he brought his nephew to a sudden check in his best pace of social philosophy, by carelessly inquiring whether they had "had a good run that morning, and whether they had killed their fox?" he looked, as he felt, as though he would willingly have committed him for twelve months' hard labour.

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The young sportsman was fain to confess that, his crack hunter had been blown early in a "tremendous run, caused by a burning scent, and that his second horse had enabled him to reach Harrals." But all this must appear mere bosh, to you, Netta ?" added he, by way of drawing his cousin into the conversation."Your Dorsetshire experience of scarlet coats, is probably limited to its Local Militia Cap

tains ?"

"I wish Mr. Grandison could hear you," was her laughing reply.

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condescend to appear in uniform, out of reach of

the Horse Guards?"

"I was speaking of his brother."

“Of Berty ?—Do you know Berty? But of course you do. The best fellow in the world! Such excellent fun as we had together last summer on the Rhine!"

"Mr. Albert Grandison is now, I believe, an attaché at Vienna," observed Sir John, whose

very questions were made in a tone of dictation.

"Is he ?-If his ambassador knows as much, His Excellency must have a tenacious memory: for Berty takes care not to be visible above the horizon more than once in six months."

"Rash conduct,-in one who has his fortune to make by diplomacy!"

"If made, it would not last him long, I'm afraid," said Edgar, laughing. "A gold mill, turned by the Pactolus, would not suffice for Berty. I scarcely know, indeed, what would keep his head above water; unless you, Netta, would take compassion upon him, and marry him.-And by the way, he is a great admirer of yours; I remember now, his telling me that, when he went down to Blandhurst last winter, in the character of a prodigal son, to eat husks and get his debts paid, he was constantly wandering about the Lynchcombe downs, with his gun on his shoulder, on pretence of shooting sea-fowl : but in reality

VOL. II

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