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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
59

her. She went out, in the vain hope that, leaving behind the solitude of home, she could leave, too, the perpetual presence which there haunted her. Ethel soon found that change of place was not change of thought, and the very effort fretted her with a feverish discontent. It was a constant labour to keep her attention to what was said; however, Lord Norbourne set down her silence to a graceful timidity, and only waited an opportunity to effect a change he had meditated from the first. It soon came: as they were on their way to a transparency of their majesties, not a little larger than life—with Bellona, in a very handsome helmet, on one side, and Peace, with a cornucopia and a full blown wreath of roses, on the other—the path was interrupted by a little knot of gentlemen.

"How very fortunate!" exclaimed Lord Norbourne. "Townshend, I have been wanting, all day, to say a few words to you! Miss Churchill, can you forgive my want of gallantry, if I transfer you to the charge of my