 thought of procuring for her
every alleviation to her retirement which books and domestic amusements
afforded? while he taught her still to respect herself; and by his
unwearied friendship convincing her that she had still much to lose,
made her life receive in her own eyes a value it would otherwise have
lost; and prevented her relapsing into that unhappy state of
self-condemnation which makes the sufferer careless of the future. He
thought, that situated as she was, solitude was her only choice; but to
render it as happy as her circumstances allowed, was his continual care:
and tho' oppressive sorrow still lay heavy on her heart; tho' it still
ached with tenderness and regret towards an object whom she had sworn to
think of, to speak of no more; her gratitude and affection towards her
brother were as lively, as if its acute feelings had never felt the
benumbing hand of despair.

In the total sequestration from the world in which she lived, she had no
other topic to dwell upon than her brother, and she gave it all its
force. Perfectly acquainted, however, with Emmeline's engagements, she
never ventured to mention the passion which she was too well assured
Godolphin felt; but she still, almost unknown to herself, cherished a
lurking hope that her connection with Delamere might be dissolved, and
that her lovely friend was destined to bless her beloved brother.

This distant hope was warm enough to animate her pen in his praise; and
Emmeline, tho' every letter she received made on her mind a deeper
impression of the merit of Godolphin, yet found such painful pleasure in
reading them, that she was unhappy if at the usual periods they did not
regularly arrive.

She tried to persuade herself, that the satisfaction she felt in reading
these letters arose purely from the delight natural to every uncorrupted
mind in contemplating a character honourable to human nature. But
accustomed to examine narrowly her own heart, she could not long impose
upon herself; and notwithstanding all her endeavours to stifle it, she
still found the idea of Godolphin mixing itself with all her thoughts,
and embittering the prospect of her certain marriage with Delamere.

In the answers Emmeline gave her friend, she related whatever she
thought likely to amuse the fair recluse; gave a regular account of her
little charge; but avoided punctiliously the least mention of
Fitz-Edward.

Fitz-Edward had received from Mrs. Stafford an account of all that had
passed at Bath, except the pains which had been taken to prevent any
meeting between him and Godolphin. But notwithstanding her cautious
silence on that head, Fitz-Edward, who
