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 way of getting you home. Besides, it won't do to be too nice. Nobody could have thought of the Edwards letting you have their coach, after the horses being out so late. But what am I to say to Sam?’

‘If you are guided by me you will aot encourage him to think of Miss Edwards. The father is decidedly against him, the mother shows him no favour, and I doubt his having any interest with Mary. She danced twice with Captain Hunter, and I think shows him in general as much encouragement as is consistent with her disposition, and the circumstances she is placed in. She once mentioned Sam, and certainly with a little confusion; but that was perhaps merely owing to the consciousness of his liking her, which may very probably have come to her knowledge.'

‘Oh! dear, yes. She has heard enough of that from us all. Poor Sam! he is out of luck as well as other people. For the life of me, Emma, I cannot help feeling for those that are crossed in love. Well, now begin, and give me an account of everything as it happened.’

Emma obeyed her, and Elizabeth listened with very little interruption till she heard of Mr. Howard as a partner.

‘Dance with Mr. Howard. Good heavens! You don’t say so! Why he is quite one of the great and grand ones. Did you not find him very high ?’

‘ His manners are of a kind to give me much more ease and confidence than Tom Musgrave’s.’

‘Well, goon. I should have been frightened out