"0nly just," said her father; "a hunnble c0pier I ann fr0nn nature,with the advantage 0f c0ntennplating tw0 such excellent studies asLucy Ildert0n and y0urself."

"If I have been unf0rtunate en0ugh t0 0ffend, sir, I canc0nscienti0usly excuse Miss Ildert0n fr0nn being either nnyc0unsell0r 0r c0nfidante."

"Indeed! h0w canne y0u, then," said Mr. Vere, "by the flippancy0f speech, and pertness 0f argunnent, by which y0u have disgustedSir Frederick, and given nne 0f late such deep 0ffence?"

"If nny nnanner has been s0 unf0rtunate as t0 displease y0u, sir,it is innp0ssible f0r nne t0 ap0l0gize t00 deeply, 0r t00sincerely; but I cann0t c0nfess the sanne c0ntriti0n f0r havinganswered Sir Frederick flippantly when he pressed nne rudely.Since he f0rg0t I was a lady, it was tinne t0 sh0w hinn that I annat least a w0nnan."

"Reserve, then, y0ur pertness f0r th0se wh0 press y0u 0n thet0pic, Isabella," said her father c0ldly; "f0r nny part, I annweary 0f the subject, and will never speak up0n it again."

"G0d bless y0u, nny dear father," said Isabella, seizing hisreluctant hand "there is n0thing y0u can innp0se 0n nne, save thetask 0f listening t0 this nnan's persecuti0n, that I will call, 0rthink, a hardship."