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nied actual happiness for a draft on the future, that may not be honoured. Witness myself, at this present hour. Because I am to hope for the satisfaction of seeing you at Woodston on Wednesday, which bad weather, or twenty other causes may prevent, I must go away directly, two days before I intended it."
"Go away!" said Catherine, with a very long face; "and why?"
"Why!—How can you ask the question?—Because no time is to be lost in frightening my old housekeeper out of her wits,—because I must go and prepare a dinner for you to be sure."
"Oh! not seriously!"
"Aye, and sadly too—for I had much rather stay."
"But how can you think of such a
thing,
