time for freedom of deliberation. She sees, as Mr. Percival once said,
'the drawn sword of tyrant custom suspended over her head by a single
hair.'"

"And yet, notwithstanding you are so well aware of the danger, your
ladyship would expose me to it?" said Belinda.

"Yes; for I think the chance of happiness, in this instance, overbalances
the risk," said Lady Anne. "As we cannot alter the common law of custom,
and as we cannot render the world less gossiping, or less censorious, we
must not expect always to avoid censure; all we can do is, never to
deserve it--and it would be absurd to enslave ourselves to the opinion of
the idle and ignorant. To a certain point, respect for the opinion of the
world is prudence; beyond that point, it is weakness. You should also
consider that the _world_ at Oakly-park and in London are two different
worlds. In London if you and Mr. Vincent were seen often in each other's
company, it would be immediately buzzed about that Miss Portman and Mr.
Vincent were going to be married; and if the match did not take place, a
thousand foolish stories might be told to account for its being broken
off. But here you are not surrounded by busy eyes and busy tongues. The
butchers, bakers, ploughmen, and spinsters, who compose our world, have
all affairs of their own to mind. Besides, their comments can have no very
extensive circulation; they are used to see Mr. Vincent continually here;
and his staying with us the remainder of the autumn will not appear to
them any thing wonderful or portentous."

Their conversation was interrupted. Mr. Vincent returned to
Oakly-park--but upon the express condition that he should not make his
attachment public by any particular attentions, and that he should draw no
conclusions in his favour from Belinda's consenting to converse with him