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is a relation of the Colonel’s, my dear; a very near relation. We will not say how near, for fear of shocking the young ladies.” Then lowering her voice a little, she said to Elinor, “She is his natural daughter.”
“Indeed!”
“Oh! yes; and as like him as she can stare. I dare say the Colonel will leave her all his fortune.”
Lady Middleton’s delicacy was shocked; an in order to banish so improper a subject as the mention of a natural daughter, she actually took the trouble of saying something herself about the weather.
When Sir John returned, he joined most heartily in the general regret on so unfortunate an event; concluding however by observing, that as they were all got together, they must do something by way of being happy; and after some consultation it was
