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THE AUTHOR OF "TRIXIE"
horror to understand anything whatever. I simply cannot believe that all this is happening. If I am not dreaming, I am the victim of an hallucination; I am stark mad. It is impossible that my own child should be"
"It's a wise father," Chloë interrupted, "who knows what it's impossible for his own child to do. Take it from me, sir, your senses deceive you in nothing. You sail to-night in the good ship Lizzie Packer and on a three years' cruise, unless you renounce this heartless folly of proclaiming yourself the author of poor dear Bisham's two novels."
"Ah!" said the Archdeacon slowly, "I see."
"Capital!" said Chloë. "Well, what do you say?"
"Why, Chloë," said her father, "I say that if you hadn't given me quite such a
