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156
THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE.

is too beautiful, I only wish Arthur could hear it."

"He has heard it," said a joyous voice at the door, and Blanche turning hastily round, saw her wishes realized. There was a rush and a scream, and a soothing sound of endearments, with "darlings" and "dearests" intermixed; and as Aunt Sarah precipitately fled, abandoning even her netting in the retreat, she was harassed by no fears that Arthur's sins would be visited with any undue amount of dignified coldness.