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"I heartily wish, then," cried she, with quickness, "that,—at this moment!—you were your brother!"
Harleigh, now, addressing the stranger, in whose air and manner distress seemed palpably gaining ground, gently said, "To save you any further trouble, I will take a place in my own name, and settle with the landlord, that, if I do not appear to claim it, it is to be made over to the person who produces this card. The book-keeper shall have such another for a check."
He put into her hand a visiting ticket, on which was engraven Mr. Harleigh, and, not waiting for her thanks, conducted Elinor back to the parlour, saying, "Pardon me, Elinor, that I have stopt any further enquiries. It is not from a romantic admiration of mystery, but merely from an opinion that, as her wish of concealment is open and confessed, we ought not, through the medium of serving her, to entangle her into the snares of our curiosity."
D 4
