told her it would be in vain to go after the they were turning the comer into street when he had overtaken them and were at home by this time then i will go after them said wherever they are i will go after them it does not signify talking if i could not be persuaded into doing what i thought wrong i never will be into it and with these words she broke away and hurried off would have darted after lier but with abbey held him let her go let her go if she will go she is as obstinate as y never finished the for it could hardly have been a proper one away walked in great agitation as fast as the crowd would permit her fearful of being pursued yet determined to as she walked she reflected on what had passed it was painful to her to disappoint and them particularly to her brother but she could not repent her resistance setting her own inclination apart to have failed a second time in her engagement to miss to have a promise voluntarily made only five minutes before and on a false pretence too must have been wrong she had not been them on selfish principles alone she had not consulted merely her own gratification that might have been in some degree by the excursion itself by seeing castle no she had attended to what was due to others and to her own character in their opinion her conviction of being right however was not enough to restore her composure till she had spoken to miss she could not be at ease and her pace when she got clear of the she almost ran over the remaining ground till she gained the top of street so rapid had been her movements that in spite of the advantage in the outset they were but just turning into their lodgings as she came within view of them and the servant still remaining at the open door she used only the ceremony of saying that she must speak with miss that moment and hurrying by him proceeded up stairs then opening the first door before her which happened to be the right she immediately found herself in the with general his son and daughter her only in being � from her i abbey irritation of nerves and of breath � no tion at ally was instantly given i am come in a great hurry � it was all a mistake i never promised to go i told them from the first i could not go i ran away in a great hurry to explain it i did not care what you thought of me i would not stay for the servant the business however though not perfectly by this speech soon ceased to be a puzzle found that john had given the message and miss had no scruples in herself greatly by it but whether her brother had still exceeded her in resentment though she instinctively addressed herself as much to one as to the other in her had no means of knowing whatever might have been felt before her arrival her eager immediately made every look and sentence as friendly as she could desire the affair thus happily settled she was introduced by miss to her father and received by him with such ready such politeness as recalled s information to her mind and made her think with pleasure that he might be sometimes depended on to such anxious attention was the general s civility carried that not aware of her extraordinary swiftness in entering the house he was quite angry with the servant whose neglect had reduced her to open the door of the apartment herself what did william mean by it he should make a point of inquiring into the matter and if had not most warmly asserted his innocence it seemed likely that william would lose the favour of his master for ever if not his place by her rapidity after sitting with them a quarter of an hour she rose to take leave and was then most agreeably sur abbey by general s asking her if she would do his daughter the honour of dining and spending the rest of the day with her miss added her own wishes was greatly obliged but it was quite out of her power mr and mrs would expect her back every moment the general declared he could say no more the claims of mr and mrs were not to be but on some other day he trusted when longer notice could be given they would not r use to spare her to her friend oh no was sure they would not have the least objection and she should have great pleasure in coming the general attended her himself to the street door saying everything gallant as they went down stairs admiring the of her walk which exactly with the spirit of her dancing and making her one of the most graceful bows she had ever beheld when they parted delighted by all that had passed proceeded gaily to street walking as she concluded with great she had never thought of it before she reached home without seeing anything more of the offended party and now that she had been triumphant throughout had carried her point and was secure of her walk she began as the flutter of her spirits subsided to doubt whether she had been perfectly right a sacrifice was always noble and if she had given way to their entreaties she should have been spared the idea friend displeased a brother angry and a scheme of great happiness to both destroyed perhaps through her means to ease her mind and ascertain by the opinion of an person what her own conduct had really been she took occasion to mention before mr the half settled scheme of her brother and the for the following day mr caught 