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Very well, my dear girl," interposed Lord Tewkesbury, "I am perfectly satisfied. Do not agitate yourself any further."

I have a word yet to add," resumed the ardent Cécile. "Now that you have rent nature's fair veil from my heart, all shall be disclosed. I do not feel myself justified, at present, in showing to you the sole communication that I have ever received from your son; but, ere long, no doubt, you will see it, and then you will be convinced that it cannot for an instant bear the construction ironically suggested by Lady Helen. I have told I have told you that I sent no reply, because none was required; but yet, mark my words, Lord Tewkesbury, there will be an answer to it soon, and one that will satisfy even Lady Helen and yourself. Do you want me any more now?" added she, addressing both her interrogators.

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Yes; stop a moment," replied her aunt. You have not been sparing in your accusations of others; you had better hear what I should otherwise have to say, on their part, in your absence. You were, as you need not have reminded us, a portionless orphan, alien to us in creed, in education, and, I might also add,

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by the forfeited station of your parents. Contrary to my expressed misgivings, Sir Charles was not satisfied with merely providing for you, which he might have done liberally in some other form; he introduced you, as a second daughter, into the bosom of his family, and what has been our reward? Our counsels spurned, our confidence betrayed, our family interest, and, far more, our family peace, blighted and destroyed. An evil genius have you been to me and mine, Cécile, and knowing that, as you well do, you might at least have the grace to remain silent. One word more: Edward will shortly, I trust, return here, and St. Edmunds, too, has his appointed place within our family circle. You must and shall learn to live with them, and with such as them, to the honest possession of whose affections you may not pretend-you must and shall, I repeat, learn to live with them in the modest consciousness of your own position. My especial care shall henceforth be that you do so, for I now perceive how culpably negligent I have been."

"May I go now?" again inquired Cécile, observing that her aunt had paused.

"You may."

During the whole of that morning and afternoon, a succession of visitors kept the whole party at Redburn so closely engaged that the absence of Cécile, even at luncheon, could scarcely be observed. It was not before five o'clock that Constance, being at length released, sought her cousin's room; but on opening the door, she found her engaged in such earnest conversation with Father Athanasius, and with another priest far more advanced in life, that she hastily withdrew to her own premises. dinner, it might have been remarked that St. Edmunds and Saint Cecilia were both immoderately thoughtful; but so courteous and kind was the repentant Lord Tewkesbury's manner to the latter, so animated were the spirits of Sir Charles, of Lady Helen, and of Constance, that the evening glided rapidly

away.

At half-past ten, Lady Helen rose and said:

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Cécile, I am going to bed, and you had better come with me."

The Saint immediately folded up her work, and prepared to obey.

At that moment, Lord Tewkesbury was

watching, at the other end of the room, a game of chess which the fair Constance was playing with his son, and Sir Charles was indulging in his evening sleep nearer to the fireside. Cécile cast a wild, tremulous glance around her, and then running to her uncle's arm-chair, kissed him gently upon his forehead, as she was wont to do in younger and happier days.

"Ah! what is it?" murmured the halfaroused Baronet.

"It was only I, dearest uncle, wishing you good night," whispered Saint Cecilia.

"Oh! good night, my dear, good night!" replied he, returning her embrace ere he composed himself again to rest.

Cécile duly escorted her aunt to the door of her apartment. When they had reached it, she respectfully said good night to her, half extending at the same time a somewhat diffident hand. But this Lady Helen, though not shortsighted, did not doubtless perceive, as she merely responded, in a haughty and distant tone, to the former compliment.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE THREE LETTERS.

THE elder members of the family assembled for breakfast at the usual hour on the following morning, and they were very speedily joined by St. Edmunds and Constance; but Cécile not having yet appeared, her cousin assumed the responsible office of making and distributing the tea.

"What is become of Mademoiselle ?" cried Sir Charles, when the repast was half concluded. "She is breaking out, that girl, upon my word she is! she has been twice late within the last ten days."

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