 her return to England for three months and to cross France once
more to attend him.

To have Emmeline her companion in such a journey seemed to offer all
that could render it charming. But how could she ask her to quit Mrs.
Stafford, to whom she had been so much obliged; and who, in her present
melancholy solitude, seemed more than ever to need her consolatory
friendship.

Her Ladyship however ventured to mention it to Emmeline; who answered,
that tho' nothing in the world would give her more pleasure than being
with such friends, she could not, without a breach of duty which it was
impossible to think of, quit Mrs. Stafford, to whom she was bound by
gratitude as well as by affection.

Lord Westhaven acquiesced in the justice of this objection, but
undertook to remove it by rendering the situation of her friend such as
would make a short absence on both sides more supportable.

He therefore in his next conversation with Stafford represented the
inconvenience of a house so far from a town, and how much better his
family would be situated nearer the metropolis. He concluded by offering
him a house he had himself hired at St. Germains; which he said he
should be obliged to Mrs. Stafford and her family if they would occupy
'till his return from Switzerland. And that no objection might arise as
to expence, he added, that considering himself as Miss Mowbray's banker,
he had furnished her with five hundred pounds, with which she was
desirous of repaying some part of the many obligations she owed Mr. and
Mrs. Stafford.

Mrs. Stafford, who saw immediately all the advantages that might arise
to Emmeline from her residence with Lady Westhaven, had on the slightest
hint been warmly an advocate for her going. However reluctant to part
with her, she suffered not her own gratifications to impede the interest
of her fair charge. But she could not prevail on Emmeline to yield to
her entreaties, 'till Lord Westhaven having settled every thing for the
removal of the family to St. Germains, she was convinced that Mrs.
Stafford would be in a pleasant and advantageous situation; and that she
ought, even for the sake of her and her children, whom Lord Westhaven
had so much the power of serving, to yield to an arrangement which would
so much oblige him.

The _chateau_ they inhabited was ready furnished; their cloaths were
easily removed; and the Staffords and their children set out at the same
time with Lord Westhaven, his wife, and Emmeline; who having seen them
settled at St. Germains greatly to the satisfaction of Mrs.
