If I must give her up, I'll know the worst from her." When Clarence was admitted, he would not permit himself to be announced, but walked tiptoe upstairs and gently opening the drawing-room door, entered the room.

Standing by the piano, turning over the leaves of some music, and merrily humming an air, was a young girl of extremely _petite_ and delicate form.

Her complexion was strikingly fair; and the rich curls of dark auburn that fell in clusters on her shoulders, made it still more dazzling by the contrast presented.

Her eyes were grey, inclining to black; her features small, and not over-remarkable for their symmetry, yet by no means disproportionate.

There was the sweetest of dimples on her small round chin, and her throat white and clear as the finest marble.