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A week passed, during which Cecilia, however sad, spent her ti to herself all voluntary indulgence of grief, and forbearing to seek consolation from solitude, or relief froed Mrs Charlton never to mention him; she called to her aid the account she had received from Dr Lyster of his firmness, and endeavoured, by an emulous ambition, to fortify her ret
This week, a week of struggle with all her feelings, was just elapsed, when she received by the post the following letter from Mrs Delvile
To Miss Beverley
BRISTOL, Oct 21
My sweet young friend will not, I hope, be sorry to hear of my safe arrival at this place: to me every account of her health and welfare, will ever be the intelligence I shall most covet to receive Yet I mean not to ask for it in return; to chance I will trust for information, and I only write now to say I shall write no more
Too much for thanks is what I owe you, and what I think of you is beyond all power of expression Do not, then, wish me ill, ill as I have seemed to merit of you, for my own heart is almost broken by the tyranny I have been co adieu to you, my admirable Cecilia; you shall not be tormented with a useless correspondence, which can only awaken painful recollections, or give rise to yet more painful new anxieties Fervently will I pray for the restoration of your happiness, to which nothing can so greatly contribute as that wise, that unifornified, you h never so feelingly as at this conscious moment! when my own health is the sacrifice of emotions most fatally unrestrained
Send to me no answer, even if you have the sweetness to wish it; every new proof of the generosity of your nature is to et us, therefore, wholly,--alas! you have only known us for sorrow! forget us, dear and invaluable Cecilia! though, ever, as you have nobly deserved, ratefully remembered by AUGUSTA DELVILE
The attenation of Cecilia, this letter destroyed: the struggle was over, the apathy was at an end, and she burst into an agony of tears, which finding the vent they had long sought, noed unchecked down her cheeks, sad uish of sorrow!