"You will write the address, then, if you please!" was Mabel's

reply, showing him the surface intended for it.

Then she left him.

"A sensible girl, after all! a genuine Aylett, in will and

stoicism!" commented the master of the situation, beginning in his

round, legible characters, the inscription he hoped never to trace

again. "So endeth her first lesson in Cupid's manual!"

He never knew that Mrs. Sutton had bolstered the Aylett will and

stoicism into stanchness at this closing scene. In a fit of

despondency, she had that morning imparted to Mabel the fact that

she had written to Frederic, ten days before, and had no answer,

although she had besought an immediate one.

"I have expected him confidently every day for a week," she

lamented. "I didn't suppose he would stay at Ridgeley, after what

has happened; but there's the hotel in the village, and, as I told

him, he could accomplish more by an hour's talk with you than by

fifty letters. It is very mysterious--his continued silence! He

always appeared so frank and reasonable. Nothing else like it has

ever occurred in my experience--and I have had a great deal, my

dear!"

"I am sorry you wrote, aunt," replied Mabel, sorrowfully dignified.

"Sorry you have subjected yourself to unnecessary mortification. I

am past feeling it for myself. We cannot longer doubt that Mr.

Chilton desires to hold no further communication with any of us."

Within the hour she made up the pacquet and carried it to her

brother.




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