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184 whether we can admit you to shelter yourself under your alleged qualifications."

"I can assure you, Julia," said the Colonel, "you are perfectly right, my friend the counsellor is a dangerous person; the last time I had the pleasure of seeing him, he was closetted with a fair lady who had granted him a tete-a-tete at eight in the morning."

"Aye, but, Colonel, you should add, I was more indebted to my chocolate than my charms for so distinguished a favour, from a person of such propriety of demeanour as Mrs. Rebecca."

"And that should remind me, Mr, Pleydell," said Julia, "to offer you tea—that is, supposing you have dined."

"Any thing, Miss Mannering, from your hands—yes, I have dined—that is to say, as people dine at a Scotch inn."

"And that is indifferently enough," said the Colonel, with his hand upon the bell-handle; "give me leave to order something."