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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
17


"I do not expect you to comprehend my motives."

"I am glad," said Henrietta, quietly, "that you do not expect impossibilities!"

"Oh, no!" said he, with a most imperturbable air, "I always make allowance for feminine weakness; I do not expect your mind to follow mine!"

"Now, the Fates forbid that it should!" thought Henrietta.

"I am aware," Lord Marchmont proceeded to say, "of my own political importance, and I have been wrong in allowing my personal feeling to the prince to bias my conduct; but every day shows more the weakness of Frederick's character. I cannot serve him and my country; I shall, therefore, go to Sir Robert's fête!"

"A most proper and patriotic resolve!" replied the countess: "I only see one objection——"

"Oh, you find some objection to any thing that I propose!" interrupted her husband: