 he embarked for Holland.

As he had before been the usual tour of France and Italy, he purposed
passing the summer in visiting Germany, and the winter at Vienna; and
early in the spring to set out thro' France on his way home, where he
purposed being on the 20th of March, when the year which he had promised
his father to pass abroad would expire.

Lord Montreville, by obtaining this delay thought there was every
probability that his attachment to Emmeline would be conquered. And his
Lordship, as well as Lady Montreville, determined to try in the interval
to procure for Emmeline some unexceptionable marriage which it would not
be possible for her to refuse. They imagined, therefore, that their
uneasiness on this head was over: and Lady Montreville, whose mind was
greatly relieved by the persuasion, was long since out of all danger
from the fits which had so severely attacked her; but the contraction of
her joints which they had occasioned, was still so painful and
obstinate, that the physicians seemed to apprehend it might be necessary
to send her Ladyship to the waters of Barege.

In the mean time, Lord Montreville had obtained a post in administration
which encreased his income and his power. Sir Richard Crofts possessed a
lucrative employment in the same department; and his eldest son was
become extremely necessary, from his assiduity and attention to
business, and more than ever a favourite with all Lord Montreville's
family, with whom he almost entirely lived.

A lurking _penchant_ for Fitz-Edward, which had grown up from her
earliest recollection almost insensibly in the bosom of Miss Delamere,
had been long chilled by his evident neglect and indifference: she now
fancied she hated him, and really preferred Crofts, every way inferior
as he was.

While the want of high birth and a title, which she had been taught to
consider as absolutely requisite to happiness, made her repress every
tendency to a serious engagement, she was extremely gratified by his
flattery; and when among other young women (from whom he affected not to
be able to stifle his unhappy passion,) she was frequently told how
much he was in love with her, she was accustomed to answer--'Ah! poor
fellow; so he is, and I heartily pity him.'

But while Lord and Lady Montreville thought Crofts's attendance on their
daughters quite without consequence, he and his father insinuated an
intended connection between him and one of them, with so much art, that
tho' it never reached the ears of the family it was universally believed
in the world.

A young nobleman who had passed
