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"She will prosecute me for breach of promise."

"Let her prosecute, then; better loss of money, better the world's scorn a thousand times, than selfcontempt, self-loathing. Cyril Denham, you have done wrong; for foolishness such as yours is sin. Humble yourself before God; let the past go; begin again, and go straight forward, Cyril Denham! Be the path rough or smooth, long or short, go straight!” "People are not caught in mantraps, unless they trespass on forbidden ground," interposed Rattenbury.

"But if they are caught," resumed Minnie, "it is of no use to stay moaning and fretting in the trap; better cut off your leg, than stop there till you die, though it is rarely one has to resort to such extreme measures. Then get off the enemy's ground as quickly as you can, and keep to the road-the King's highroad! O Cyril Denham don't sink into the pit that swallows up so many in this dreadful London! Think of your mother-think of that good Sally; and, oh! think of the day that must come when this world will have nothing more for you than a coffin and a grave; think of the blessing of the higher, purer life that God keeps for those who truly love Him!"

Would those earnest words, spoken from the depths of Minnie Rattenbury's true heart, avail to save him? Would God bless them to his rescue? We shall see.

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CHAPTER XXIX.

FATHER AND DAUGHTER.

"LAURA, I want to speak to you!" said Cyril, an evening or two afterwards, when Mrs. Matthews'

family" were assembled, as usual, in the drawingroom. Miss Somerset was standing rather apart from the others, busying herself with the sorting of several portfolios of music; and thus appealed to, she did not raise the magnificent lashes that swept her delicately tinted cheeks, but, in her sweetest, lowest tones, made answer, "Very well, dear Cyril; what is it?"

"I wish to speak with you alone; not here, among all these people."

Laura looked up then, and gazed straight into his face. From an ordinary lover such a request would have been natural enough; but Cyril, though a suitor, was no lover of hers, and never had been, and that she knew right well; and there was that in his tone which to her acute and well-trained perceptions evidenced a desire to say something of no ordinary importance, something which her intuition immediately told her might be of the deepest moment to herself. She replied, quietly enough, "Oh, certainly! But first I must sing that new opera-song for Mrs. Battelbringer: I promised her. Then, Cyril, dear, I am at your service. Shall we have our little talk in Papa's room?"

Cyril looked round, and saw that Somerset père was playing whist with all his soul, with Miss Crumple for partner, and Mr. Battelbringer and a visitor for antagonists. Somerset père was a wonderful man at cards; it was difficult to say which was the more

amazing, his science or his luck. But seeing him thus, to all appearance, safely disposed of, Cyril agreed to the tryst proposed, and Laura, after selecting her song, seated herself at the pianoforte and began her performance.

And meanwhile, Cyril sat down by Mrs. Battelbringer, who was in a bad temper, because her husband was again risking his money, and, par consequence, losing it to Mr. Somerset. She was watching her husband and his opponent very closely, and she bit her lips with vexation as she saw the nervous expression she knew so well, gathering on the countenance of her lord and master, an expression which always warned her that he was losing confidence and selfcontrol preparatory to the final loss. In a vexed and irritable tone she said to Cyril, "I do wish Miss Somerset would not play and sing while they are at cards; it invariably puts Mr. Battelbringer out, and he loses his game. One would think she did it on purpose, since nothing discomposes Mr. Somerset."

"But," said Cyril, greatly astonished, "she is playing now at your request. She promised you that new song, she says."

Mrs. Battelbringer looked up with a peculiar expression, and netted away furiously. Presently a sarcastic smile curved her thin lips, and she replied, “Now, what made her tell you that, I wonder."

"Why should she not tell me ?”

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Simply because young ladies should not tell white lies. Of course she had some end in view when she determined to sing that song; and to give me the credit of having asked for it; but ask for it I did not! and I have not, as far as I can recollect, exchanged a single word with Laura Somerset to-day." "Are you sure, Mrs. Battelbringer? forget!"

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"I do not forget, and I am positive. I neither asked her to sing that song nor any other song. I never even thought about asking her."

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It is very strange!"

"Very! but then Miss Somerset is no ordinary woman; she never tells-what shall I call them ?— little romances, without a definite end in view. Though she might just as well have declared that she wished to sing to please herself and the company generally."

It was by no means a new discovery that the fair Laura was not particular as to speaking the exact truth; but it was very difficult to convict her even of a small evasion. The fact, in the present instance, was that Cyril's request had rather taken her by surprise, and she wanted a few minutes to reflect, and to resolve upon the course she would pursue, should certain probable or possible sequences arise, and she had taken advantage of the first pretext that presented itself. As Cyril very seldom conversed with Mrs. Battelbringer, she could not foresee the brief conversation that ensued, nor could she imagine that Mrs. Battelbringer, who generally professed to soar up into the seventh heaven under the inspiration of her music, would actually object to her performance on the present occasion. The result of her cogitations was the writing of a few words on a slip of paper, which she gave privately to her father after she left her instrument; not so privately though, but that both Adeline and Angey, as well as the whist-party, perceived the manoeuvre, and wondered what it meant. The slightly pencilled lines ran thus: "He wants to speak to me. Something is up! I have asked him to your room; come presently, and remain or retire, as I shall signal to you."

A little while afterwards Laura glided from the room, and Cyril followed her to Mr. Somerset's chamber, which, indeed, had been converted into a private sitting-room for the father and daughter; the bed being arranged as a sofa in the daytime. Cyril felt terribly like a culprit as he met the steady gaze of his beautiful betrothed, who with a sweet smile on her ruby lips, and a proud soft light in her dark lustrous eyes, was standing on the hearth, ready to receive him. He felt that if he faltered he was lost; if he waited to

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introduce the subject they were come together to discuss, he would never get beyond the preface. too stood; he felt as if he could better say that which had to be said while standing. But ere he could commence Laura took the word: "Cyril, what is the matter? You are come to tell me something dreadful. I see it in your face. Do not hesitate; I cannot bear suspense."

"Laura, I come to make a most humiliating confession. I asked you to marry me on the mere impluse of the moment; I wronged you shamefully, for I did not and do not love you."

"Cyril! do you say this to insult me?"

"That I do not. I would not for worlds insult any woman, far less one whom I have wronged as I have wronged you."

"Say, rather one whom you are intending to wrong.'

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'Nay, I will wrong you no more, and I will not wrong myself. I should sin against God, against you, and against myself, did I become your husband. O Laura, you know there is no true, pure love between us two."

"How dare you say such things?" And she drew up her fine figure and curled her lip, and her splendid eyes flashed scorn upon him till he quailed beneath their glances. "But, Mr. Denham, I am not to be insulted with impunity. I am my father's daughter, happily; not a poor meek waif or stray cast upon society without protection, to be picked up and flung aside again at the caprice of every faithless man! Why did you seek to win me? How can you have the effrontery to come now and say you never loved me?" "My blame is very great, but it would be greater still, did I hold you to your bargain."

"My bargain! That is how you speak of a solemn engagement entered into openly, with the full consent of my father, and in the sight of every person in this house. Do you know how injurious to my honour, to my fair fame, would be the rupture you so calmly contemplate, so insultingly propose?

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