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I trespass not at present, I hope, being directly on my way to pay my compliments to Mr. Charville on this happy occasion.

Right, Mr. Crafton; you are above any little resentment for the extravagant demand with which he so ungraciously met your late reasonable offer regarding this manor. I know all about it; and the very unfair advantage which the late Mr. Charville took of your uncle's distresses to get possession of it,—I know all about it. Mr. Charville is my friend and employer, but I am too candid not to feel and to perceive: indeed he was wrong—much in the wrong, in that matter.

And in other matters too, perhaps. But one must keep up some intercourse with the world as it is; the grass would grow on my threshold, were I to confine my visits to the immaculate. You are come down, I presume, to improve the pleasure grounds. He means upon his marriage to have every thing in the modern taste.

And shall have it, if I can do any thing; but he is so conceited of his own notions, so suspicious, he will trust nobody but by halves.