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236
ETHEL CHURCHILL.



CHAPTER XXX.


SIR ROBERT WALPOLE AND HOUSE.


This is the charm of poetry: it comes
On sad perturbed moments; and its thoughts,
Like pearls amid the troubled waters, gleam.
That which we garnered in our eager youth,
Becomes a long delight in after years:
The mind is strengthened, and the heart refreshed
By some old memory of gifted words,
That bring sweet feelings, answering to our own,
Or dreams that waken some more lofty mood
Than dwelleth with the commonplace of life.


The two friends were roused from the sad and subdued mood into which they had gradually sank, by the sudden stoppage of the carriage at the entrance to Sir Robert Walpole's house. The arrival took them by surprise: Ethel, who had quite lost the passing cheerfulness of the morning, turned yet paler, but Lady Marchmont was at once aroused by