Pagina 175 di 817

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a

ball of this kind, given by a young man of character, to

respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far

from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be

honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of

the evening; and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours,

Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially; a preference

which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause,

and not to any disrespect for her."