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Aurelia had been walking in the park with her two re up to the door, and Letitia dropped her hoop in her curiosity and excite the Major's partial acquiescence, had felt herself no longer obliged to vegetate at Carminster, but had started for Bath, while the roads were still practicable; and had at the same time sent off a courier with letters to Bowstead Kind Mrs Dove had sent a little packet to each of the children, but they found Cousin Aura's sy, and she at last replied to their repeated calls to here to share their delight, that they must run away, and display their treasures to Molly and Jumbo She must read her letters alone

The first she had opened was Betty's, telling her of her father's illness, which was attributed in great part to the distress and perplexity caused by Lady Belamour's proposal Had it not been for this indisposition, both father and sister would have co it for a moment; but since the journey was impossible, he could only desire Betty to assure her sister that no constraint should be put on her, and that if she felt the least repugnance to the ed to subious duty of full consideration and prayer before deciding on ould fix her destiny for life, but all was so confusing to the girl, entirely unprepared as she was, that after hastily glancing on in search of an explanation which she failed to find, she laid it aside, and opened the other letter It began imperially

"MY COUSIN, "No doubt you are already informed of the Honour that has been done you by the Proposal that Mr Amyas Belaht Co Maid like you, fron; and you will no doubt shew the Good Sense to esteem yourself fortunate beyond all reasonable Expectations or Deserts of your own, as well as to act for the Advantage of your Fahtiness nor Reluctance to interfere with you true Welfare I say this, because, as you well know, your Father's Affection is strong and blind, and you e both his Health and his Prospects On receiving the tidings of your Marriage, I promise to settle on him the Manor House with an Annuity of Three hundred Pounds; but if he should support you in any foolish Refusal, I shall be obliged to inform him that I can dispense with his Services; therefore you will do wisely to abstain from any childish expressions of Distaste