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108 BLACK SHEEP.presence, ancl the imperative necessity ofselfrestraintimposed by the consideration of herhealth ancl the danger of agitation toher, Georgewould have inevitably told his step-father thetruth. He felt all the accumulated meannessof an implied falsehood most deeplyancl bitterly,and might have been capable of forgetting eyrenhis mother, but for a timely warning conveyed tohim by the compressed lips ancl frowning broyvs ofhis uncle. As for his mother, neither he nor Mr.Felton could judge of the effect produced uponher by the yvords of her husband. She had turnedaway her head as he began to speak." I yvasjust going to tellLaura whatIthoughtof doing, if you and she approve," Mr. Feltonhastened to say. "You see,Iam getting moreaud moreanxious about Arthur, anclIdon't thinkhe yvill turn up here. Ithought if George anclIwere to go on to Paris and make some inquiriesthere — Iknow pretty well where he yvent tothere, ancl what he did. We need not make morethan a few clays' delay, and then go on to London,ancl join you and Laura there. What doyou say?"