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" I'm in your hands," said she, and smiled languidly, to please him. But by-and-by he looked at her, and found she was taking a little cry all to herself. " Dear me !" said he ; " what is the matter ? " " My friend, forgive me. He was not there to share my triumph." CHAPTER IV. As the opera drew to an end, Zoe began to look round more and more for Severne ; but he did not come, and Lord Uxmoor offered his arm earnestly. She took it; but hung back a moment on his very arm, to tell Harrington Mr. Severne had been taken ill. At the railway station the truant emerged suddenly, just as the train was leaving; but Lord Uxmoor had secured three seats, and the defaulter had to go with Harrington. On reaching the hotel, the ladies took their bed-candles; but Uxmoor found time to propose an excursion next da Sunday, to a lovely little lake—open carriage, four horses. The young ladies accepted, but Mr. Severne declined ; he thanked Lord Uxmoor politely, but he had arrears of correspondence. Zoe cast a mortified, and rather a haughty glance on him ; and Fanny shrugged her shoulders incredulously. These two ladies brushed hair together in Zoe's room. That is a soothing operation, my masters, and famous for stimulating females to friendly gossip; but this time there was, for once, a guarded reserve. Zoe was irritated, puzzled, mortified, and even grieved by Severne's conduct. Fanny was gnawed by jealousy, and out of temper. She had forgiven Zoe Ned Severne. But that young lady was insatiable ; Lord Uxmoor, too, had fallen openly in love with her; openly to a female eye. So then a blonde had no chance with a dark girl by ; thus reasoned she, and it was intolerable. It was some time beforeeither spoke an atom of what was uppermost in her mind. They each doled out a hund...
