situation would permit, to recollect and lay together several incidents
that had passed between my aunt and me; and, comparing them with some of
the contents of my cousin Dolly's letter, I began to hope, that I needed
not to be so very apprehensive as I have been next Wednesday. And thus I
argued with myself.

'Wednesday cannot possibly be the day they intend, although to intimidate
me they may wish me to think it is: for the settlements are unsigned: nor
have they been offered me to sign. I can choose whether I will or will
not put my hand to them; hard as it will be to refuse if my father and
mother propose, if I made compulsion necessary, to go to my uncle's
themselves in order to be out of the way of my appeals? Whereas they
intend to be present on Wednesday. And, however affecting to me the
thought of meeting them and all my friends in full assembly is, perhaps
it is the very thing I ought to wish for: since my brother and sister had
such an opinion of my interest in them, that they got me excluded from
their presence, as a measure which they thought previously necessary to
carry on their designs.

'Nor have I reason to doubt, but that (as I had before argued with
myself) I shall be able to bring over some of my relations to my party;
and, being brought face to face with my brother, that I shall expose his
malevolence, and of consequence weaken his power.

'Then supposing the very worst, challenging the minister as I shall
challenge him, he will not presume to proceed: nor surely will Mr. Solmes
dare to accept my refusing and struggling hand. And finally, if nothing
else will do, nor procure me delay, I can plead scruples of conscience,
and even pretend prior obligation; for, my dear, I have give Mr. Lovelace
room to hope (as you will see in one of my letters in your hands) that I