"
"If you could only think of some plan," said his lordship, catching
at the hope of her words, "you are so clever."
"I am going to try," answered Mary, "and if I fail, you must run
off with me, even if you have to do it right before your mother's
eyes."
What she meant was, "I shall have to run off with you," but she
thought it better to put it the other way about.
Mary found her involuntary rival a meek, gentle little lady, as
much under the influence of her blustering father as was Lord C-
under that of his mother. What took place at the interview one can
only surmise; but certain it is that the two girls, each for her
own ends, undertook to aid and abet one another.
Much to the surprised delight of their respective parents, there
came about a change in the attitude hitherto assumed towards one
another by Miss Clementina Hodskiss and Lord C-. All objections to
his lordship's unwilling attentions were suddenly withdrawn by the
lady. Indeed, so swift to come and go are the whims of women, his
calls were actually encouraged, especially when, as generally
happened, they coincided with the absence from home of Mr.
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