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carriage; and as they drove on he returned to

his inn, the happiest of lovers.

Sir Clifford

and his uncle had been distant spectators of this rencontre; and, when they were again seated in the coach, De Silvain carelessly remarked

"I think, Miss Meredith, that we met an acquaintance of yours at the post office-the young gentleman who has just left you."

"It is Mr. Evelyn, a friend of my uncle Stanley's. I was introduced to him in London."

"And I shall request of Mrs. Devereux to include him in her party to-morrow evening," said Mrs. Meredith. "He appears to be a

perfect gentleman; and, as a friend of my good brother-in-law, I am happy to pay him every attention."

Clifford Raymond, usually so generous and hospitable, did not show any pleasure on hearing of this new acquaintance. He felt an incipient dislike to the young stranger: he was jealous ; and, instead of begging Mrs. Meredith to invite Mr. Evelyn to Woodleigh, he merely said— "Will Mr. Evelyn go to the ball, Lucy?" "Yes; he intends to go."

"And you, I presume, intend to dance with

him?"

"I do; I am already engaged.”

"Without waiting to see if I should be able to meet with a partner?

"

"We know, my dear Clifford, that you never go to balls; we can scarcely prevail on you to join us in a quiet, friendly dinner at the Devereux's; and your health just now requires the greatest care and attention. Lucy will return in two days and bring us back all the news of the country."

"You must own that I am the most submissive of convalescents, Mrs. Meredith, in not accompanying Lucy to her first ball."

But the conversation was taking a dangerous turn; Mrs. Meredith and De Silvain thought so; and the latter, in reply to the ladies, related some anecdote of the gay voluptuary, Louis Quinze. The captain had been at Versailles, and was au fait as to the sayings and doings of the courtiers. He spoke particularly of the exiled Stuarts, of the chivalrous Chevalier de St. George, the handsome descendant of both

Tudors and Stuarts; and, on concluding his eulogium on the latter, said

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"I hope it is not treason to say that if ever that young prince should attempt to regain the throne of his ancestors I should be very much disposed to wish him success. What is your

opinion, Sir Clifford?"

"Heaven forbid that such an attempt should ever be made!" exclaimed his nephew. "We

have not yet forgotten the rising of '15. I have heard Father Clifford speak of the misfortunes it occasioned."

"I am rather surprised to hear a Roman Catholic gentleman adopt that view of the

case.

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My dear sir, remember that I am an Englishman, and, I hope, a loyal subject. Why should I wish well to the insane efforts of those who would plunge us into the horrors of civil war?"

"I shall say no more-politics are seldom agreeable to ladies;" and De Silvain bowed, with true French gallantry, to Mrs. Meredith. How acceptable his nephew's were to him

will be better learnt from a letter which, that night, he wrote to the Abbé Trafford. It was rather late when they returned to Woodleigh, Mrs. Devereux having pressed them to remain to supper; and, when they reached home, finding that Father Clifford had retired to his room, they also separated for the night.

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Chapter VI.

"It is my vision in the night,

My dreaming in the day."-HOOD.

letter,

It was nearly four in the morning ere De Silvain sought his couch. He had been writing; and we venture to peruse the may although it is written in cipher. After informing the Abbé of his reception at Woodleigh, he continued

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You will be anxious to learn how far our cause would derive benefit from the adherence of Father Clifford and of my nephew. I have sounded them both, and I counsel you not to rely on them, and, also, to to beware of the former. He is, in his heart, an apostate; and the boy baronet, the heir, is in love with the daughter of the Protestant lady, whose charity and kindness have been so lauded by Clifford

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