 chid me for having omitted to inquire about her
aunt, who (she assured me) in the midst of all her absence of temper, and
detachment from common affairs, often talked of me with uncommon warmth. - I
professed my veneration for the good lady, excused my omission, by imputing it
to the violence of my love, which engrossed my whole soul, and desired to know
the present situation of her health. - Upon which, the amiable Narcissa repeated
what I had heard before, of her marriage, with all the tenderness for her
reputation that the subject would admit of; told me, she liv'd with her husband,
hard by, and was so much afflicted with a dropsy, and wasted by a consumption,
that she had small hopes of her recovery. - Having expressed my sorrow for her
distemper, I questioned her about my good friend Mrs. Sagely, who I learned (to
my great satisfaction) was still in good health, and by the encomiums she
bestowed upon me after I was gone, confirmed the favourable impression, my
behaviour at parting had made on Narcissa's heart - This circumstance introduced
an inquiry into the conduct of Sir Timothy Thicket, who (she informed me) had
found means to incense her brother so much against me, that she found it
impossible to undeceive him; but on the contrary, suffered very much in her own
character, by his scandalous insinuations - that the whole parish was alarmed,
and actually in pursuit of me; so that she had been in the utmost consternation
upon my account, well knowing how little my own innocence and her testimony
would have weighed with the ignorance, prejudice and brutality of those, who
must have judged me, had I been apprehended - that Sir Timothy being seized with
a fit of the apoplexy, from which with great difficulty he was recovered, began
to be apprehensive of death, and to prepare himself accordingly for that great
event; as a step to which, he sent for her brother, owned with great contrition,
the brutal design he had upon her, and of consequence acquitted me of the
assault, robbery and correspondence with her, which he had laid to my charge,
after which confession he lived about a month in a languishing condition, and
was carried off by a second assault.
    Every word that this dear creature spoke, rivetted the chains with which she
held me enslaved! My mischievous fancy began to work, and the tempest of my
passion to wake again; when the return of Freeman destroyed the tempting
opportunity, and enabled me to quell the rising tumult. - A
