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"I wonder not," said Mrs Delvile, "that in a situation where delicacy was so e, Miss Beverley should feel herself distressed and unhappy A mind such as hers could never err with impunity; and it is solely froht, that I venture to wait upon her now, and that I have any hope to influence her upon whose influence alone our whole family must in future depend Shall I now proceed, or is there any thing you wish to say first?"

"No,of you, with no predeterard me, but with an equitable resolution to attend to reason, and a candour that leaves an opening to conviction Not easy, indeed, is such a task, to a uided by the dictates of inclination,---"

"You wrong reatly hurt, "my uided by duty, it is wretched with a consciousness of having failed in it! I pine, I sicken to recover er feel unworthy of yours; and whether or not I ain it, I should at least lose this cruel depression that now sinks ain it," said Mrs Delvile, "were to exercise but half your pohich at this moment enables you, if such is your wish, toever thought of another Do you condescend to hold this worth your while?"

Cecilia started at the question; her heart beat quick with struggling passions; she saw the sacrifice which was to be required, and her pride, her affronted pride, arose high to anticipate the rejection; but the design was conant rashness, and told her that one hasty speech ht separate her from Delvile for ever When this painful conflict was over, of which Mrs Delvile patiently waited the issue, she answered, with reatly, truly as I value it,--is what I now scarcely dare hope"

"Say not so," cried she, "since, if you hope, you cannot miss it I purpose to point out to you the reatly I shall think myself your debtor if you refuse not to e back; fearful of her own strength, she dared venture at no professions; yet, how either to support, or dispute her compliance, she dreaded to think