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Now, therefore, her plan of conduct settled, with calh a heavy heart, she attended upon Mrs Charlton; but fearing to lose the steadiness she had just acquired before it should be called upon, if she trusted herself to relate the decision which had been ht her for the present to dispense with the account, and then forced herself into conversation upon less interesting subjects

This prudence had its proper effect, and with tolerable tranquility she heard Mrs Delvile again announced, and waited upon her in the parlour with an air of coerness and e her arirl! Saver of our family! preserver of our honour! How poor are words to express my adations as I owe you!" "You owe h; on ation, if you can pardon the petulance of "

"Call not by so harsh a name," answered Mrs Delvile, "the keenness of a sensibility by which you have yourself alone been the sufferer You have had a trial the most severe, and however able to sustain, it was iive up any man whose friends solicit not your alliance, your enerosity in subnation to those for whose interest it isyourself accountable to reatness of mind which calls for reverence rather than thanks, and which I never can praise half so much as I admire"

Cecilia, who received this applause but as a confir; and Mrs Delvile, having seated herself next her, continued her speech

"My son, you have the goodness to tell me, is here,--have you seen hi, "but hardly for a moment"

"And he knows not of my arrival?" No,--I believe he certainly does not"

"Sad then, is the trial which awaits him, and heavy for ain?"

"No,--yes,--perhaps--indeed I hardly--" She sta her hand, said "Tell ain?"

Cecilia was thunderstruck by this question, and, colouring yet more deeply, looked down, but could not answer