THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE.
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CHAPTER XVI.
Lord Chester was delighted to meet his old friend Hopkinson again, and carried him off to see Blanche, who seemed also to look on him as an old friend; and spoke so admiringly, and kindly of his daughters, that, as Captain Hopkinson observed afterwards, it was very lucky that the girls were, perhaps, the nicest girls in the world, otherwise, all Lady Chester said, might have sounded too complimentary; but, as it was, nothing could be more discriminating and satisfactory. Then Lord Chester took him to his stables, and offered him the use of any of his riding horses—a proposal that was peremptorily declined, probably to the saving of John's life, and much to the satisfaction of the groom, who
