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Hawthorne, Julian, 1846-1934

"Bressant"

"
It was very neatly managed, on the whole; and Cornelia, as she put on
her shoes, and drew the hood around her face, congratulated herself on
her tact and readiness. Yet she felt a little uneasiness, assignable to
no particular cause, and upon no definite subject; it may have been
nothing more than some slight qualms of conscience at having so deluded
her unfortunate admirer. As she came down from the ladies'
dressing-room, she felt a strong impulse to go and kiss her papa
good-by; but reflecting that Bill would probably be with him, and that
she would see him at any rate before she went to bed, she thought better
of it; and, taking Bressant's arm--he was waiting her at the foot of the
stairs--she signified her readiness to start.
"When did papa say he was coming?" asked she, as they moved through the
passage-way to the door.
"He was playing backgammon; he said he should be through in ten minutes;
he would probably overtake us before we got to the Parsonage," replied
the young man.
"I hope he'll be all safe!" said Cornelia, half to herself, the vague
feeling of uneasiness still working within her.
At the door they were met by Abbie, who bade them good-night, with the
same expression upon her lips and in her eyes that she had worn when
presenting them to one another early in the evening.


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