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Rh which, perhaps, her uncle had anticipated. To be sure, an heiress is never at a loss for friends; but the very thought of strangers made Emily cling more closely to Lady Mandeville's protection. Her ladyship was very tired of Norville Abbey, and a little female diplomacy had been exerted for some time, to convince her husband that—whether put on those unfailing arguments, health or spirits—a little change was indispensable, as Hortense says of her drawing-room's Sevres china, and or-molu, "C'est plus qu'utile, c'est nécessaire." After many demurs—turnip-fields and covies, the ash coppice and pheasants, put into the balance against "Raphaels, Correggios, and stuff"—it was finally agreed they should travel for the next season, on condition that the following one was to see them quietly settled in the Abbey again, taking care of the county interest during that seventh year of such importance to our constitution, where the phœnix parliament dissolves into its original elements, again to be collected and revivified by the process called purity of election. Like most fair tactitians, Lady Mandeville, contented with present advantages, left the future to take care of itself: besides, after a year