 inquire how the marchioness had rested, and whether she was yet able to receive our visits? Emily seemed to blush at her want of consideration, and readily assented to my proposal.
WILLIAMS was dispatched with a card, and soon returned with a verbal answer, that the marchioness was much better, and would be glad to see us. I hoped she would have had address enough, to have saved me from the embarrassment, which such an interview must give me. But there was now no retreating; and Emily and I got into the chariot together.
WHEN we were shewn into the marchioness's apartment, she was lying on a couch, in the most elegant dishabille.—What a subject for an Apelles, Seymour! It was with difficulty I could restrain myself from expressing the transports that I felt. She rose to receive lady Woodville, with such an air of graceful dignity, as queens might gladly learn. I saw that Emily blushed, and looked confused, at her amazing superiority, but was relieved by the entrance of your sister, lady Sandford.
THE marchioness's behaviour towards me, was remarkably cold, and distant; and I thought she overacted her part so much, that any other woman in the world, but Emily must have perceived something extraordinary, in the change

of her manner; but happily lady Woodville is a stranger to suspicion.
YOU may suppose our visit was not a very long one, yet it appeared to me insufferably tedious; and I thought myself more obliged to Emily, when she rose to go away, than ever I had been to any one in my life. I had the happiness to hear that the marchioness had received no hurt from her fall, that could be of any ill consequence; the blood that appeared, was from a slight contusion in her nose.
RANSFORD came to wait on her, while we were there; and as he handed my wife to her carriage, and I was quitting the room, the marchioness, with the utmost fierté, though in a low voice, said, lord Woodville, return instantly, or never!
THE manner with which she pronounced these words, astonished and confounded me. I then saw that her behaviour towards me was the effect of resentment, not art;—yet how had I offended, how forfeited that tenderness which she expressed for me the day before? Inexplicable creature! mysterious woman! of all riddles, the hardest to be expounded by the boasted wisdom of thy vassal man!
I BOWED, and withdrew in the utmost amazement at her conduct; and by vainly endeavouring to account for it,
