I shall insist upon your remaining until the return of Mr.Bates, when I shall beg you to repeat to him what you have already revealed to me." "As you insist upon it, I suppose I must," repeated he, after some reflection; "but I must say I do not like the office of informer," concluded he, with assumed reluctance.
"I am sorry to impose it upon you; yet, rest assured, they will thank you.
Excuse me for a few moments--I will go and see how Anne is." Miss Ellstowe returned, after a short interval, with the information that little Birdie was much more composed, and would, no doubt, soon recover from her fright.
"To receive a worse blow," observed George Stevens.

"I pity the poor little thing--only to think of the disgrace of being engaged to a nigger.

It is fortunate for them that they will make the discovery ere it be too late.
Heavens! only think what the consequences might have been had she married this fellow, and his peculiar position became known to them afterwards! She would have been completely 'done for.'" Thus conversing respecting Clarence, they awaited the return of Mr.Bates.
After the lapse of a couple of hours he entered the drawing-room.

Mr.
Stevens was presented to him by Miss Ellstowe, as a particular friend of herself and family.

"I believe you were here when I came in before; I regret I was obliged to leave so abruptly," courteously spoke Mr.Bates, whilst bowing to his new acquaintance; "the sudden and alarming illness of my young friend will, I trust, be a sufficient apology." "How is he now ?" asked Miss Ellstowe.
"Better--much better," answered he, cheerfully; "but very wild and distracted in his manner--alarmingly so, in fact.