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much desire any continued intercourse with her untimely visiter.

It was to Madame C., well known and liked by the family, that the care and comfort of her companions, the professors, had been committed, that lady holding herself responsible for the decency and good order of the party, whilst under her patron's roof.

She had taken the young Italian girl under her chaperonage and protection, and established her in her own apartment; and, apparently to carry out to the full her kind anxiety for the bodily and mental health of this almost child, the good lady had sent her to bed, whilst the elders lingered over the enjoyment of the good repast, with which they were every night supplied.

Aline abashed, and discomposed, hesitatingly murmured—

"It does not signify. It is of no consequence," and retreated.

Lucia watched her through the half closed

door, stood another instant irresolute, then sprang hastily forward, and disappeared

Aline had heard the sound of an opening door, with that of voices, from some neighbouring apartment, and with a sudden impulse of shame and fear, at being thus strangely discovered, fled to avoid the rencontre thus threatened by the approaching footsteps.

Finding her only access, for that purpose, to be a door standing open, leading to a kind of raised terrace, which faced this portion of the mansion, she turned lightly aside, and stood without, her lamp extinguished by the air, into which it was so quickly transported.

Aline stood motionless, a pale, ghost - like figure, her white dress, shining shadowy, the jewel on her brow faintly glistening in the moon-light.

She stood in trouble, and in terror, for she found herself with one, the last, yet the first, she would, in that moment of agitation, have wished to meet-Carlo Angelo!

"Her doom is writ, her name is grown
Familiar in the common mouth.

And she, who was, when all unknown,

Like sunbeam bursting from the south,"

is overshadowed by a step too questionable, too notorious for one of that sex of whom it has been said,

"The most perfect amongst them are those of whom neither good nor bad ever is heard."

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Hours of terror and suspense seemed to Aline the few moments, during which, having been thus equipped, she was left upon the Terrace, till Angelo, more provident than herself, returned with a writing-desk under his

arm.

He drew her on the first step she made was irresolute-lingering, she looked backrepenting fondness for those she left filling her heart at that moment. Afraid, she felt to go, but loath to return, like all weak tremblers on the brink of evil.

Her companion paused.

"Aline!" he murmured fearfully, but earnestly, "do you-will you repent?"

"No-no!" she faintly gasped, and they went

forth together.

VOL. I.

CHAPTER XII.

"Oh, unhappy girl!

Who would be a father?

O Heaven! how got she out! O treason of the blood!
Fathers, from hence, trust not your daughters' mind,
By what you see them act."

OTHELLO.

THEY went forth; they did what many unthinking, wild, young people have done before them, with more or less excuse.

The old man must not, in his partial tenderness for one amongst that number, cast a veil over or extenuate a deed, which, for their own sake-for that of their friends, and the commonwealth of social England-demands our sternest

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