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Valancourt and Emily now joined the Lady Blanche; and the party, soon

after, sat doith the Count, his son, and the Chevalier Du Pont, at a

banquet, spread under a gay awning, beneath the trees At the table also

were seated several of the most venerable of the Count's tenants, and

it was a festive repast to all but Valancourt and Emily When the Count

retired to the chateau, he did not invite Valancourt to accompany him,

who, therefore, took leave of Eht: meanwhile, she soon withdrew to her own apartment, where

she mused, with deep anxiety and concern, on his behaviour, and on the

Count's reception of hiot Dorothee and her appoint that the good old woman would not come, she retired, for a

few hours, to repose

On the following day, when the Count had accidentally joined Emily in

one of the walks, they talked of the festival of the preceding evening,

and this led hi man of

talents,' said he; 'you were formerly acquainted with him, I perceive'

Emily said, that she was 'He was introduced to me, at Paris,' said the

Count, 'and I was much pleased with him, on our first acquaintance' He

paused, and Ethe Count, that she felt an interest on the subject

'May I ask,' said he, at length, 'how long you have known Monsieur

Valancourt?'--'Will you allow me to ask your reason for the question,

sir?' said she; 'and I will answer it immediately'--'Certainly,' said

the Count, 'that is but just I will tell you my reason I cannot but