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_ Countess of Ferrers!’
a - . o ap me jo f A \
WILD MARGARET. |). .—9
‘'Ves,’? said Austin, slowly, almost gravely, ‘‘I think
youdo.”
There was a moment’s silence. -
“And you propose—what do you propose?” he said, .
~ quietly; ‘‘ do you mean to marry her?”
Blair sprung to his feet and his face turned white.
Tut, tut, man,’ remarked Austin Ambrose, with per-
fect coolness, ‘‘ you don't always marry them!” a
Lord Blair sank back into his chair with a look of re-
morse and shame that was of more credit to him than any
_ other expression could have been.
“You hit me fairly, Austin,’? he said, almost hoarsely.
| ‘‘But—but—all that has gone forever, I hope! I—I turn
_ over a new leaf from to-day, please Heaven! Do I mean
to marry her? Yes, yes! If she willhave me!. If she will
stoop, the angel, to pick me out of the mud with her pure
white hand, I mean to go to the earl and say—‘ My lord,
this is my future wife!’ and he sprung up and began to
pace the floor. ;
Austin Ambrose sipped his wine. .
“Hem! he said, slowly. ‘I don’t think I should do
that, if I were in your place, Blair. ”’
Lord Blair stopped. mS
‘You wouldn’t—why not?” oo
Austin Ambrose was silent for a moment, then he set
down his glass and leant back in_his chair, but still looked —
just over Blair’s head, instead of into his eyes.
‘Look here, Blair,” he said; ‘‘I don’t know that I have
any right to intrude my advice, or even my opinion, upon
you, but Iam, as you know, your friend.
“T should think’ so!’ exclaimed Lord Blair. “
“Yes, Iam your friend! I owe you my life! Ever
since you picked me out of the Thames that August morn-
ing——’ >
e Oh, nonsense!’ broke in Blair. ‘Any fellow would .
have done the same! You'd have picked me out if I’d had .
the cramp, and was going down instead of you.” r
“Well, we won’t talk of it then,” said Austin Ambrose;
‘“but, of course, I don’t forget. it. When I look in the
glass in the morning, I say to the not particularly ,hand-
- some gentleman who regards me, * My friend, but for Lord
‘Blair’s strong arm and good wind, you would not be out-
‘side the world’s crust this morning.’ Of course, I can't »
forget it, and as I owe you my life, I will continue to be a
- nuisance to you by offering my advice, and that 1s, Don’t.
go to the earl and tell him you are going to. make his
housekeeper’s granddaughter his future niece. and the