Chapter XVII and XVIII Summary

In Chapter XVII, on the day of the ball at Ashby Park, Agnes had intended to go visit Nancy Brown but Rosalie keeps her busy by having her copy a piece of music for her. The next day Rosalie tells Agnes that Sir Thomas did, indeed, propose to her during the ball. Agnes first hopes the wedding will be stalled so that Rosalie will have time to think about the situation into which she is getting herself, but then later comes to believe that it is better off that Rosalie be married so she will not be able to hurt and deceive other men. Rosalie answers not only the letters that Sir Thomas writes to her but also those that Mr. Green writes to her. Rosalie plays him along, also, choosing not to tell him that she...