The look of haughty and impatient displeasure, with which
Madame Cheron regarded them, made Emily shrink, who understood from a
single glance, that this meeting was believed to have been more than
accidental: having mentioned Valancourt's name, she became again too
much agitated to remain with them, and returned into the chateau;
where she awaited long, in a state of trembling anxiety, the
conclusion of the conference. She knew not how to account for
Valancourt's visit to her aunt, before he had received the permission
he solicited, since she was ignorant of a circumstance, which would
have rendered the request useless, even if Madame Cheron had been
inclined to grant it. Valancourt, in the agitation of his spirits,
had forgotten to date his letter, so that it was impossible for
Madame Cheron to return an answer; and, when he recollected this
circumstance, he was, perhaps, not so sorry for the omission as glad
of the excuse it allowed him for waiting on her before she could send
a refusal.
Madame Cheron had a long conversation with Valancourt, and, when she
returned to the chateau, her countenance expressed ill-humour, but
not the degree of severity, which Emily had apprehended.
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