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He shortly afterwards drew a chair close to her's, and, with a look which perfectly assured her of his good information, inquired after her sister

"Marianne is not well," said she "She has been indisposed all day, and we have persuaded her to go to bed"

"Perhaps, then," he hesitatingly replied, "what I heard thismay be--there may be more truth in it than I could believe possible at first"

"What did you hear?"

"That a gentleman, whom I had reason to think--in short, that a ed--but how shall I tell you? If you know it already, as surely you must, I may be spared"

"You hby's e with Miss Grey Yes, we DO know it all This seeeneral elucidation, for this very hby is unfathomable! Where did you hear it?"

"In a stationer's shop in Pall Mall, where I had business Two ladies aiting for their carriage, and one of the the other an account of the intendedconcealment, that it was ihby, John Willoughby, frequently repeated, first caught my attention; and what folloas a positive assertion that every thing was now finally settled respecting his er to be a secret--it would take place even within a feeeks, with , especially, I remember, because it served to identify the man still o to Cona, his seat in Somersetshire My astonishment!--but it would be impossible to describe what I felt The communicative lady I learnt, on inquiry, for I stayed in the shop till they were gone, was a Mrs Ellison, and that, as I have been since inforuardian"

"It is But have you likewise heard that Miss Grey has fifty thousand pounds? In that, if in any thing, we hby is capable--at least I think"--he stopped a moment; then added in a voice which seemed to distrust itself, "And your sister--how did she--"

"Her sufferings have been very severe I have only to hope that they may be proportionately short It has been, it is a most cruel affliction Till yesterday, I believe, she never doubted his regard; and even now, perhaps--but I am almost convinced that he never was really attached to her He has been very deceitful! and, in some points, there seems a hardness of heart about him"