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rliest occasion--that Mr. Maverick was speedily to come for Adele, and to restore her to the embraces of a mother whom she had not seen for years. Even the spinster, at the parsonage, was disposed to credit something to the rigid legal aspects which the affair was taking, and to find in them a shelter for her wounded dignities. Nor did she share the inquietude of the Doctor at thought of the new and terrible religious influences to which Adele must presently be exposed; under her rigid regard, this environment of the poor victim with all the subtlest influences of the Babylonish Church was but a proper and orderly retribution under Providence for family sins and the old spurning of the law. 'T was right, in her exalted view, that she should struggle and agonize and wrestle with Satan for much time to come, before she should fully cleanse her bedraggled skirts of all taint of heathenism, and stand upon the high plane with herself, among the elect. "It is satisfactory to reflect, Benjamin," said she, "that during her residence with us the poor girl has been imbued with right principles; at least I trust so." And as she spoke, the exemplary old lady plucked a little waif of down from her bombazine dress, and snapped it away jauntily upon the air,--even as, throughout her life, she had snapped from her the temptations of the world. And when, in his Scripture reading that very night, the Doctor came upon the passage "_Wo unto you, Pharisees!_" the mind of the spinster was cheerfully intent upon the wretched sinners of Judaea. LIX. THE news of Maverick's prospective arrival, and the comments of the good Doctor,--as we have said,--shed a new light upon the position of Adele. Old Squire Elderkin, with a fatherly interest, was not unaffected by it; indeed, the Doctor had been communicative with him to a degree that had enlisted very warmly the old gentleman's sympathies. "Better late than never, Doctor," had been his comment; and he had thought it worth his while to drop a hint or two in the ear of Phil. "I say, Phil, my boy, I gave you a word of caution not long ago in regard to--to Miss Maverick. There were some bad stories afloat, my boy; but they are cleared up,--quite cleared up, Phil." "I'm glad of it, sir," says Phil. "So am I,--so am I, my boy. She's a fine girl, Phil, eh?" "I think she is, sir." "The deuse you do! Well, and what then?" Phil blushed, but the smile that came on his face was no
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