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198
NIGHTMARE ABBEY.
"By spontaneous locomotion," said Scythrop, sullenly.
"Celinda," said Mr. Toobad, "what does all this mean?"
"I really do not know, Sir."
"This is most unaccountable. When I told you in London that I had chosen a husband for you, you thought proper to run away from him; and now, to all appearance, you have run away to him."
"How, Sir! was that your choice?"
"Precisely; and if he is yours too, we shall be both of a mind, for the first time in our lives."
"He is not my choice, Sir. This lady has a prior claim: I renounce him."
"And I renounce him," said Marionetta.
Scythrop knew not what to do. He could not attempt to conciliate the one without irreparably offending the other; and he was
