 quite as high as the first attack; and, that tho'
she tried to conquer her weakness, and affected ability to prosecute a
journey for which she hourly grew more eager, it was easy to see that
she was as unfit for it as ever. Miss Lawson added, that if in a few
hours she was not better, she should send to Mr. Lawson to come from
Stevenage to see her. This account renewed with extreme violence all the
former terrors of Delamere, which a few hours before he had been trying
to persuade himself were groundless.

He now reproached himself for his thoughtless cruelty; and Miss Lawson
seized this opportunity to exhort him to be more cautious for the
future, which he readily and warmly protested he would be. He promised
never again to give way to such extravagant transports, and pressed to
be admitted to see Emmeline; but Miss Lawson would by no means suffer
him to see her 'till she was more recovered from the effects of his
frenzy.

In the afternoon, he was allowed to drink tea in Emmeline's room, and
expressed his sincere concern for his indiscretion of the evening
before. He tried, by shewing a disposition to comply with all her
wishes, to obliterate the memory of his former indiscretion. Emmeline
was willing to forget the offence, and pardon the offender, on his
renewing his promise to take her the next day towards London, on her
route into Dorsetshire; if she should be well enough to undertake the
journey.

The spirit and fortitude of Emmeline, fatal as they were to his hopes,
commanded the respect, esteem, and almost the adoration of Delamere;
while her gentleness and kindness oppressed his heart with fondness so
extreme, that he was equally undone by the one and the other, and felt
that it every hour became more and more impossible for him to live
without her.

It was agreed, that as it would be impossible to reach Woodfield from
Hertford, without stopping one night on the road, they would proceed
thro' London to Staines the first day, and from thence go on early the
next to the house of Mrs. Stafford.

After lingering with her as long as he could, Delamere took his leave
for the evening, determined to observe the promises he had made her, and
never again to attempt to obtain her but by her own consent. When he
made these resolves, he really intended to adhere to them; and was
confirmed in his good resolutions when he the next morning found her
ready to trust herself with him, calm, chearful, full of confidence in
his promises, and of gentleness
