Page 171 (1/1)

This was extrereement, she felt no inclination to reproach Delvile; the abruptness of his note, the evident hand-shaking hich it had been written, the strangeness of the request in a situation such as theirs, --all concurred to assure her he came not to her idly, and all led her to apprehend he caht be, she had no time to conjecture; a servant, in a few entle, shut it hiht, her prognostication of ill becaer! she went forward toand in haste; but that smile did not well do its office; it concealed not a pallid countenance, in which every feature spoke horror; it disguised not an aching heart, which almost visibly throbbed with intolerable emotion! Yet he addressed her in terms of tenderness and peace; but his tremulous voice counteracted his words, and spoke that all within was tuhted, had no power to hasten an explanation, which, on his own part, he seein He talked to her of his happiness in again seeing her before he left the kingdom, entreated her to write to hi two and three tian with one subject, and seemed unconscious he wandered presently into another, and asked her questions innumerable about her health, journey, affairs, and ease ofto rew dreadfully terrified; so she was sure must have happened, but what, she had no e, nor even words to enquire

Delvile, at length, the first hurry of his spirits abating, beca anxiously at her, said, "Why this silence,to recover herself, "but your coate"

"Write still, then; but direct to Ostend; I shall be quicker than the post; and I would not lose a letter--a line--a word from you, for all the world can offer me!"

"Quicker than the post?" cried Cecilia; "but how can Mrs Delvile--" she stopt; not knohat she ate; I hope to be there to receive her I one"