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Rh on itself; and a fault found in the object of her attachment is resented as an injury: she is angered, not altered. Briefly, as briefly as lover could well speak of his mistress, Edward recounted his engagement with Beatrice de los Zoridos; and never, certainly, was narrative less interrupted. Lady Mandeville dared not even look at Emily; and when under the absolute necessity of saying something, the very faculty of speech seemed to desert her. It looked so odd not to reply to Edward with all the kindness he had a right to expect; while it would be so cruel to Emily to congratulate him with any degree of warmth. To her utter astonishment, Emily actually was the first to speak. "Nay, Mr. Lorraine, you ought to canvass me; do you not know that all the gracious countenance Lady Mandeville can extend is mine by pledge and promise? I do not know whether I will allow her to grant the light of her favour to any rival next season—more especially to one so dangerous to the undivided effect I mean to produce, as this beautiful and interesting unknown." Edward made some deprecatory reply; and Lady Mandeville recovered breath and presence of mind together.