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ry later on. 'Twould but embarrass her to relate it now. The duchess has been good enough to charge herself with the cost of her keeping--her schooling and the rest." "Oh, that alters the case. If she is a protegee of her grace I need not say more. Her future is provided for." "Why, yes," but Gay spoke in anything but a confident tone. Inwardly he was troubled at what view Mat Prior's "Kitty" might take of Polly's escapade. The Duchess might be as wayward as she pleased, but it did not follow that she would excuse waywardness in another woman. Gay turned to Pepusch and the two conversed for some little time, the upshot of the talk being that Pepusch promised, when the proper time came, to say to John Rich all he could in favour of Lavinia, always supposing she had acquired sufficient stage experience. This settled, the poet drew near Lavinia who all this time was waiting and wondering what this new adventure of hers would end in. "Now Polly, my dear," said Gay, "if you behave yourself and don't have any more love affairs----" "But did I not tell you, sir, I'd had none," interrupted Lavinia. "Yes--yes, I remember quite well. We won't go into the subject again or we shall never finish. The varieties and nice distinctions of love are endless. A much more pressing question is nearer to hand--where are you going to live?" "Hannah, my mother's servant--a dear good kind creature--it was through her I was able to come here--will find me a lodging. I can trust her but--but----" She stopped and much embarrassed, twisted her fingers nervously. "I understand. You've but little money." "I have none, sir, unfortunately." "Well--well--never mind. Here's a guinea." "Oh, you're too generous, sir. But I shall pay you back." "Don't worry about that. Now go into the house. I will ask Mr. Pope to tell his housekeeper to give you a dish of tea or a cup of cocoa. Good-bye. You must let me know where you are living. I may have good news for you within a few days." Lavinia between smiles and tears hurried off after curtseying to the gentlemen under the cedar tree and on her way across the lawn was met by the man-servant who took her to the housekeeper's room. The woman had heard the singing and was full of admiration. She wanted to hear more, she said, so while the tea was being got ready Lavinia sent her into thrills of delight by warbling the universal favourite "Cold and Raw." After a time came the question
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