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What a blow upon them all was this!

"But if you write a note to the housekeeper, Mr Brandon," said Marianne, eagerly, "will it not be sufficient?"

He shook his head

"We o," said Sir John--"It shall not be put off e are so near it You cannot go to town till tomorrow, Brandon, that is all"

"I wish it could be so easily settled But it is not in my power to delay my journey for one day!"

"If you would but let us knohat your business is," said Mrs Jennings, "we ht see whether it could be put off or not"

"You would not be six hours later," said Willoughby, "if you were to defer your journey till our return"

"I cannot afford to lose ONE hour"-Elinor then heard Willoughby say, in a low voice to Marianne, "There are some people who cannot bear a party of pleasure Brandon is one of the cold I dare say, and invented this trick for getting out of it I would lay fifty guineas the letter was of his oriting"

"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne

"There is no persuading you to change your mind, Brandon, I know of old," said Sir John, "when once you are deter But, however, I hope you will think better of it Consider, here are the two Miss Careys come over froe, and Mr Willoughby got up two hours before his usual tiain repeated his sorrow at being the cause of disappointing the party; but at the same time declared it to be unavoidable

"Well, then, ill you coain?"

"I hope we shall see you at Barton," added her ladyship, "as soon as you can conveniently leave town; and we must put off the party to Whitwell till you return"

"You are very obliging But it is so uncertain, when I e for it at all"

"Oh! he must and shall come back," cried Sir John "If he is not here by the end of the week, I shall go after his, "and then perhaps you may find out what his business is"