She would not go down, for she felt there must be something of this kind
legibly branded on her face: "Oh! oh! just look at this young lady! She
has been letting a young gentleman kiss the palm of her hand; and the
feel has not gone off yet; you may see that by her cheeks."
But then, poor Edward! she must go down.
So she put a wet towel to her tell-tale cheeks, and dried them by
artistic dabs, avoiding friction, and came downstairs like a mouse, and
turned the door-handle noiselessly, and glided into the sitting-room
looking so transparent, conscious, and all on fire with beauty and
animation, that even Edward was startled, and, in a whisper, bade his
mother observe what a pretty girl she was: "Beats all the country girls
in a canter." Mrs. Dodd did look; and, consequently, as soon as ever
Edward was gone to Oxford, she said to Julia, "You are feverish, love;
you have been excited with all this. You had better go to bed."
Julia complied willingly; for she wanted to be alone and think. She
retired to her own room, and went the whole day over again; and was happy
and sorry, exalted and uneasy, by turns; and ended by excusing Mr.
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