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Cecilia felt gratified, humbled, animated and depressed at once by this letter, of which Delvile brought her a copy "And what," cried she, "was the answer?"

"I cannot in decency," he replied, "speak my opinion of it: read it yourself,--and let me hear yours"

To the Honourable Mrs Delvile

Your extraordinary letter,to hope the affair over from the time my disapprobation of it was formally announced I am sorry you are so much indisposed, but I cannot conclude your health would be restored by atory to my house I disapprove it upon every account, not only of the name and the fortune, but the lady herself I have reasons n, but they are such as I am bound in honour not to mention After such a declaration, nobody, I presu them Her defence you have only from herself, her accusation I have received from authority less partial I command, therefore, that my son, upon pain of my eternal displeasure, ain, and I hope, madam, from you the same complaisance to my request I cannot explain myself further, nor is it necessary; it is no news, I flatterwithout reason, and I believe nothing upon slight grounds

A few cold co her journey, and the re- establish read, hastily returned it, and indignantly said, "My opinion, Sir, upon this letter,since, to have spared your mother and ourselves, those vain and fruitless conflicts which we ought better to have foreseen were liable to such a conclusion Now, at least, let therace wilfully, after suffering froour involuntarily"

"O no," cried Delvile, "rather let us now spurn it for ever! those conflicts must indeed be ended, but not by a separation still more bitter than all of thehly offended to observe by the extreme coldness of this letter, the rancour he still nourished for the contest preceding her leaving hier now refused even her separate consent, for a ed to take

"Good heaven!" cried Cecilia, much amazed, "this from Mrs Delvile!--a separate consent?"-"She has always ed for herself, and refused all other arbitration: when so impetuously she parted us, my father's will happened to be her's, and thence their concurrence: my father, of a temper immoveable and stern, retains stubbornly the prejudices which once have taken possession of hienerous as fiery, and noble as proud, is open to conviction, and no sooner convinced, than ingenuous in acknowledging it: and thence their dissention Froiveness, but must never expect concession; frorant, for pardon but her vehenify human nature!"