was more than she felt equal to support from their counsel or their conversation she knew she could receive no assistance their tenderness and sorrow must add to her distress while her self command would neither receive encouragement firom their example nor from their praise she was stronger alone and her own good sense so well supported her that her firmness was as her appearance of as invariable as with r so and so fresh it was possible for them to be much as she had suffered from her first conversation with on the subject she soon felt an earnest wish of it and this for more reasons than one she wanted to hear many particulars of their engagement repeated again she wanted more clearly to understand what really felt for edward whether there were any in her declaration of tender regard for him and she particularly wanted to convince by her readiness to enter on the matter again and her calmness in on it tiiat she was no otherwise interested in it il and s� thin as which she veiy her in their discourse must have left at least doubtful that was disposed to be jealous of her appeared probable it was plain that edward had always spoken hi y in her praise not merely from s assertion but from her venturing to trust her on so short a personal acquaintance with a secret so and evidently and even sir john i joking intelligence must have had some weight but indeed while remained so well assured within a being really beloved by edward it required no other consideration of to make it natural that should be jealous and that she was so her very confidence was a proof what other reason for the disclosure of the a r could there be but that might be informed by it of s superior claims on edward and be taught to avoid him in future t she had little difficulty in understanding thus much of her rival s intentions and while she was resolved to act by her as every principle of honour and honesty directed to combat her own affection for edward and to see him as little as possible she could not deny herself the comfort of endeavouring to convince that her heart was and as she could bow have nothing more painful to hear on the subject than had already been told she did not her own ability of going through a repetition of particulars with composure but it was not immediately that an opportunity of doing so could be commanded though was as well disposed as herself to take advantage of any that occurred for the weather was not often fine enough to allow of their joining in a walk where they might most easily separate themselves from the others and though they met at least every evening either at the park or cottage and chiefly at the they could not be supposed to meet for the sake of conversation such a thought would never enter either sir john or lady s head and therefore very leisure was ever ven for general chat and none at all for particular discourse they met the sake of eating drinking and ng together playing at and cards or or any other game that was noisy one or meetings of this kind had taken place without any chance of engaging in private when called at the cottage one morning to h in the name of charity that they would all dine with lady that day as he was obliged to attend die at and she would otherwise be quite alone except hei mother and the two miss who foresaw s fairer opening for the point she had in view in such a party as this was likely to be more at liberty among themselves under the tranquil and well bred direction of lady than when her husband united them together in one immediately accepted the invitation margaret with her mother s permission was equally and though always to join any of their parties was persuaded by her mother who could not bear to have her herself from any chance of amusement to go likewise the young ladies went and lady was happily preserved bom the solitude which had threatened her the of the meeting was exactly such as had expected it produced not one novelty of thought or ex don and nothing could be less interesting than the whole of their discourse both in the dining parlour and draw ing room to the latter the children accompanied them and while they remained there she was too well convinced of the of engaging s attention to attempt it they quitted it only with the removal of the tea the card table was then placed and began to wonder at herself for having ever entertained a hope of finding time for conversation at the park they all rose up in preparation for a game i am glad said lady to you are not going to finish poor uttle maria s basket this evening for i am sure it must hurt your eyes to work by and we will m e the dear httle love some amends her disappointment to and then i hope she will not much it this hint was enough recollected herself instantly and and indeed yon are very much lady i am waiting to know can make j par without me or i should have been at my already i would not disappoint the little angel for all the world and if you want me t the card table now i am resolved to finish the basket after supper you are very good � i hope it won t hurt your eyes � will you ting the bell for some working candles i my poor little girl would be sadly disappointed i know if the basket was not finished t morrow for though i told her it certainly would not i 