had now so much lightened her heart, that she could spare without
repining, some portion of its spirit to her dejected young friend.

But an incident happened two mornings after which called back, and most
unpleasantly, her attention to herself. She was told that Mrs Matt, the
poor woman she had settled in Bury, begged an audience, and upon
sending for her up stairs, and desiring to know what she could do for
her, "Nothing, madam, just now," she answered, "for I don't come upon
my own business, but to tell some news to you, madam. You bid me never
take notice of the wedding, that was to be, and I'm sure I never opened
my mouth about it from that time to this; but I have found out who it
was put a stop to it, and so I come to tell you."

Cecilia, extremely amazed, eagerly desired her to go on.

"Why, madam, I don't know the gentlewoman's name quite right yet, but I
can tell you where she lives, for I knew her as soon as I set eyes on
her, when I see her at church last Sunday, and I would have followed
her home, but she went into a coach, and I could not walk fast enough;
but I asked one of the footmen where she lived, and he said at the
great house at the Grove: and perhaps, madam, you may know where that
is: and then he told me her name, but that I can't just now think of."

"Good heaven!" cried Cecilia,--"it could not be Bennet?"

"Yes, ma'am, that's the very name; I know it again now I hear it."

Cecilia then hastily dismissed her, first desiring her not to mention
the circumstance to any body.