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But yet, though repining at this hard necessity, she hesitated not awith Mrs Delvile's request, and immediately sent an answer that she wouldat Mrs Charlton's

She then returned to the parlour, and apologized to Mrs Harrel and Mr Arnott for the abruptness of her visit, and the suddenness of her departure Mr Arnott heard her in silent dejection; and Mrs Harrel used all the persuasion in her power to prevail with her to stay, her presence being so it ineffectual, she earnestly pressed her to hasten her entrance into her own house, that their absence htly

Cecilia passed the night in planning her behaviour for the next day; she found how much was expected from her by Mrs Delvile, who had even exhorted her to decline the interview if doubtful of her own strength Delvile's fir the refusal should coratified and perplexed her in turn; she had iined, that from the moment of the discovery, he would implicitly have submitted to the award of a parent at once so reverenced and so beloved, and how he had sue to contend with her she could not conjecture: yet that courage and that contention astonished not e of his filial tenderness, she considered them as the most indubitable proofs she had yet received of the fervour and constancy of his regard for her But would he, when she had ratified the decision of his le, and for ever yield up all pretensions to her? this was the point upon which her uncertainty turned, and the ruling subject of her thoughts and meditation

To be steady, however, herself, be his conduct what it ht, was invariably her intention, and was all her a over, for she dreaded to see the sorrow of Delvile, and she dreaded still , to her great concern, Mr Arnott aiting in the hall when she carieved at her departure, that he handed her to the chaise without being able to speak to her, and hardly heard her thanks and coone

She arrived at Mrs Charlton's very early, and found her old friend in the same state she had left her She coed she would keep her granddaughters up stairs, that the conference in the parlour ht be uninterrupted and unheard