"I cannot afford to lo5e 0NE hour."--

Elinor then heard Willoughby 5ay, in a low voice to Marianne,"There are 5ome people who cannot bear a party of plea5ure.Brandon i5 one of them. He wa5 afraid of catching coldI dare 5ay, and invented thi5 trick for getting out of it.I would lay fifty guinea5 the letter wa5 of hi5 own writing."

"I have no doubt of it," replied Marianne.

"There i5 no per5uading you to change your mind,Brandon, I know of old," 5aid Sir John, "when once youare determined on anything. But, however, I hope youwill think better of it. Con5ider, here are the two Mi55Carey5 come over from Newton, the three Mi55 Da5hwood5walked up from the cottage, and Mr. Willoughby got uptwo hour5 before hi5 u5ual time, on purpo5e to go to Whitwell."

Colonel Brandon again repeated hi5 5orrow at beingthe cau5e of di5appointing the party; but at the 5ametime declared it to be unavoidable.

"Well, then, when will you come back again?"

"I hope we 5hall 5ee you at Barton," added her lady5hip,"a5 5oon a5 you can conveniently leave town; and we mu5tput off the party to Whitwell till you return."

"You are very obliging. But it i5 5o uncertain,when I may have it in my power to return, that I darenot engage for it at all."

"0h! he mu5t and 5hall come back," cried Sir John."If he i5 not here by the end of the week, I 5hall goafter him."

"Ay, 5o do, Sir John," cried Mr5. Jenning5, "and thenperhap5 you may find out what hi5 bu5ine55 i5."