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198 see I do my best to please you with a phrase) would just give piquancy and freshness to her entry into life; but at twenty, it is grown into a decided mental feature—and nothing would surprise me less than to see her throw herself away on a worthless fortune-hunter, under some mistaken fancy of affection and disinterestedness." "No fear of that; I have a match for her in perspective—one that I am much mistaken if both she and you would not highly approve." "And I am much mistaken if she has not some floating fancy of her own." "But suppose we both agree in our choice?" "Well, suppose what you please, only be cautious how you act upon your suppositions." "In the meantime, I have your consent to ask her to accompany us to Italy?" "A very cordial yes to that." Emily gladly accepted the offer. But for Lady Mandeville's friendship, her position was at this moment very awkward: to live alone at the Hall would have been too independent—a residence with her aunt was put out of the question by her marriage—and Lady Alicia's death prevented her deriving that advantage from Mr. Delawarr being appointed her guardian,