, that though it was late in the day, after Willoughby's arrival at Exmouth, before this was determined upon, they were at Exeter by seven in the evening; and in an hour afterwards, Cathcart and Jessy arrived also.
Cathcart not only informed Willoughby that his estate was still his, but put into hands

those letters that brought the intelligence of that acquisition of fortune which came by the death of Lord Castlenorth.—The satisfaction of this intelligence, the pleasure of meeting Cathcart and Jessy, who were overwhelmed with joy to see them—the certainty of returning together to a place they both so fondly loved, seemed to complete the happiness of the long divided lovers.—Early the next morning they reached Alvestone, where, in the absence of Mr. Thorold, his curate joined the hands of Willoughby and Celestina, above eighteen months after that period, when they believed themselves separated for ever.
In three days Lady Horatia arrived at Alvestone; and the additional pleasure her company gave them, was checked only by the account she gave of the situation of Montague Thorold—who not having been allowed to see Celestina, the time of whose departure from Exmouth had been industriously concealed from him, had sunk into such a state of despondence, as made his father tremble for his reason, if not for his life.
For Vavasour too, whom Willoughby had always loved, he could not help feeling concern.

—He knew not whither to direct to him; but from all the accounts he was able to gain, he feared that all the good qualities of his heart and understanding were obscured, if not destroyed, by the dissolute stile of life into which he had plunged with such avidity, since their last parting.—He endeavoured, however, to counteract the impressions of these only alloys to supreme happiness, by reflecting on the probable felicity of other friends, and particularly of the Count of Bellegarde; from whom, ten days after his marriage, he received a letter, informing him, that he was then going to Perpignan; empowered to release his wife from her convent—and that they should go, together with their Anzoletta, immediately to Rochemarte—where he besought Willoughby to rejoin him, with Celestina—promising, that if he would do so, they would return with him, and pass the winter all together in England.
Though it was now late in the year, and though Celestina would have preferred remaining at Alvestone, where she had fixed all her ideas of happiness, yet the wishes of her uncle, and the melancholy satisfaction of visiting

the place where her mother had lived—and where she died a victim to parental harshness, and maternal grief;
