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ALINE.

AN OLD FRIEND'S STORY.

BY THE AUTHOR OF

"THE GAMBLER'S WIFE," "DAUGHTERS,"

"SYBIL LENNARD," &c. &c. &c.

"I cannot tell how the truth may be,

I say the tale as t'was said to me."

SCOTT.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

T. C. NEWBY, 72, MORTIMER STREET,
CAVENDISH SQUARE.

1848.

BIBL

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POOR Lady Adelaide Seyton had perhaps never been more annoyed in her life, than by the occurrences in the park that afternoon, both

VOL. II.

B

by the conspicuous appearance and the consequent sensation created by Aline in her new equipage.

Not only had she to endure the eager excitement which the sight of her sister caused in the young Ada, but also to bear the mortification of receiving importunate enquiries from the ignorant, as to who could be the ladies-both so striking in their different way—one by her shewy style of beauty-the other by her graceful, delicate loveliness.

But still worse to bear, were the flattering commendations and congratulations on the reappearance of her ladyship's daughter in society, politely spoken by many who did recognize the former Miss Seyton.

"No daughter of mine, I must beg to say," was Lady Adelaide's haughty reply, to those whose observations on the subject she condescended to answer-and bitter were her inward invectives against the effrontery, to say the least of it, that the conduct of Aline displayed in thus

thrusting herself into such glaring publicity, and before her very eyes-thereby exposing her family to so much disagreeable annoyance.

Little therefore, was her ladyship prepared to behave with equanimity, on occasion of the subsequent adventure-brought about, as will be seen, through the medium of one, who seemed ever to assert such strange interference in Aline's ways and doings.

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Lord Mervyn had been of course not one of the least interested amongst the observers of Aline and her companion.

From the time he first discerned them in the park, he contrived to dog the course of their carriage, first bowing to Madame LucettiAline nervously averting her head when warned of his approach-then exchanging some light, careless words with the Italian en passant, and finally going so far as to suit his horse's pace to theirs and make it amble by their side. Aline

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