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He would then have hurried her back to the next roouised resentment, "No, Sir," she cried, "this must not pass! my positive rejection of Sir Robert the instant you cootten nor e ed by your unaccountable perseverance in refusing to receive ht up in the country," returned Mr Harrel, with his usual negligence, "are always so high flown in their notions, it is difficult to deal with them; but as I am much better acquainted with the world than you can be, you ive me leave to tell you, that if, after all, you refuse Sir Robert, it will be using him very ill"

"Why will you say so, Sir?" cried Cecilia, "when it is utterly impossible you can have formed so preposterous an opinion Pray hear me, however, finally, and pray tell Sir Robert--"

"No, no," interrupted he, with affected gaiety, "you shallto do with the quarrels of lovers"

And then, with a pretended laugh, he hastily left her

Cecilia was so much incensed by this i to the family, she went directly to her own room It was easy for her to see that Mr Harrel was bent upon using every eine theof such a scheme, the littleness of his behaviour excited her conteave her the utain determined to seek an explanation with hi the party to Violet Bank

The following day, while the ladies and Mr Arnott were at breakfast, Mr Harrel came into the room to enquire if they should all be ready to set off for his villa by ten o'clock the next day Mrs Harrel and her brother answered in the affirmative; but Cecilia was silent, and he turned to her and repeated his question

"Do you thinkyou but yesterday I could not be of your party, I shall tell you to- day that I can?"

"Why you do not really mean to remain in town by yourself?" replied he, "you cannot suppose that will be an eligible plan for a young lady On the contrary, it will be so very ied to oppose it"