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Mada conversation with Valancourt, and, when she

returned to the chateau, her countenance expressed ill-huree of severity, which E ain be disturbed with similar visits He assures me, that your

intervieas not preconcerted'

'Dear madam!' said Emily in extreme emotion, 'you surely did not ask him

the question!' 'Most certainly I did; you could not suppose I should be

so ilect it'

'Good God!' exclaimed Emily, 'what an opinion must he form of me, since

you, Madam, could express a suspicion of such ill conduct!'

'It is of very little consequence what opinion he may form of you,'

replied her aunt, 'for I have put an end to the affair; but I believe

he will not form a worse opinion of me for my prudent conduct I let him

see, that I was not to be trifled with, and that I had more delicacy,

than to permit any clandestine correspondence to be carried on in my

house' Emily had frequently heard Madame Cheron use the word delicacy, but she

was now more than usually perplexed to understand how she meant to apply

it in this instance, in which her whole conduct appeared to merit the

very reverse of the term

'It was very inconsiderate of my brother,' resu your conduct to me; I wish you ell

settled in life But if I find, that I am to be further troubled with