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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
295

send all kind of things by the carrier every Friday. Fruit, eggs, butter, poultry, game, bacon, tongues, pies, cream, and many more things, which will come into my head by degrees."

"The slower the better, say I."

"Pigeons, too, and venison; mince meat and potted veal; cakes of all kinds, can be carried," said Mrs. Margaret, speaking in soliloquy.

"What a cormorant's nest that woman is filling! by and by we shall have the 'beeves and the beer, and the jolly new year,' following en train," said the good baronet.

"Oh, grandpapa," said Arthur, looking with the affectionate yet half ashamed face of days gone by, "how good you are to think of doing so much for me now that you don't know Georgiana! I know not what to say; I feel that——"

"That you could give better than take, my dear fellow. But that would not be altogether right to those so much your elders; so make yourself as happy as you can under your circumstances. I can rely on Meersbrook's judgment in this affair, because he is not in love, you know; and I can rely on your word, if you give it me, to do nothing in a hurry, nothing that shall induce the world to look lightly on her who is to bear your name, and find countenance and kind ness from your family."

"I do pledge you my word to that effect. I expect to be called to my ship every day, and all I desire