 her. Alas! far
from aggravating, by pursuing your resentment, anguish so poignant, try
rather to soothe her sorrows and assist her determination. And whatever
that determination may be, when it is once made she may perhaps be
restored to health and to tranquillity.'

'Indeed I will do all you dictate, my loveliest friend! Surely I should
ill deserve the generosity you have shewn to me, were I incapable of
feeling for others, and particularly for my sister. But wherefore that
air of defiance which Mr. Fitz-Edward thought it necessary to assume? He
seemed to come more disposed to _insult_ than to conciliate the family
of Lady Adelina.'

'Alas! do you make no allowance for the perturbed situation of his mind,
when he saw the woman he adores to all appearance dead, and for the
first time beheld the poor little boy? He looked upon you as one who
desires to tear from him for ever these beloved objects; and forgetting
that he was the aggressor, thought only of the injury which he supposed
you intended.'

'There is, indeed, some apology for the asperity of his manner; and
perhaps I was in some measure to blame. Generous, candid, considerate
Emmeline! how does your excellent heart teach you to excuse those
weaknesses you do not feel, and to pity and to forgive errors which
your own perfect mind makes it impossible for you to commit! Ah! how
heavily is your tenderness perpetually taxed: _here_, it is suffering
from the sight of Adelina--in town, it will have another object in the
unfortunate Delamere.'

'Did you not tell me he was in tolerable health?'

'Alas! what is bodily health when the mind is ill at ease? The anxiety
of Delamere to see you, to hear his destiny from yourself, is uneasy
even to me, who feel my own exquisite happiness in knowing what that
destiny must be. I look with even painful commiseration on this singular
young man. Yet from passions so violent, and obstinacy so invincible, I
must have rejoiced that Miss Mowbray has escaped; even tho' her
preference of the fortunate Godolphin had not rendered his lot the most
happy that a human being can possess.'

'Since you are so good,' said Emmeline faintly, for she was quite
exhausted, 'to compassionate the situation of mind of Delamere, you
will, I think, see the humanity of concealing from him--that--' She
could find no term that she liked, to express her meaning, and stopped.

'That he has a fortunate
