been excused from listening to her complaint,begged leave to decline giving any adviceconcerning it, which ^much must against herwill, she was obliged to comply with.

Having dispatched him therefore withmany injuctnctions¹ of secrecy, she descendedwith a heavy heart into the Parlour, whereshe found the good Party seated in a socialmanner round a blazing fire.

Emma had continued in the Parloursome time before she could summon upsufficient courage to ask M^rs Willmotafter the rest of her family; & when she did,it was in so low, so ^{faltering a} faultering a^2voice manner