 may honour me.'

She then represented to him, with all the force of reason, how little he
could remedy the evil by hazarding his own life or by taking that of
Fitz-Edward.

'At present,' continued she, 'the secret is known only to me, Miss
Mowbray, and Lady Adelina's woman; if it is farther exposed, the heirs
of Mr. Trelawny, who are so deeply interested, will undoubtedly take
measures to prove that the infant has no just claim to the estate they
so eagerly expect. Mr. Trelawny's sister has already entertained
suspicions, which the least additional information would give her
grounds to pursue, and the whole affair must then inevitably become
public. Surely this consideration alone should determine you--why then
need I urge others equally evident and equally forcible.'

Godolphin acknowledged that there was much of truth in the arguments she
used; but denied that any consideration should influence him to forgive
the man who had thus basely and ungenerously betrayed the confidence of
his family.

'However,' added he again, checking the heat into which he feared a
longer conversation on this subject might betray him--'I have not yet,
Madam, absolutely formed the resolution of which you seem so
apprehensive; and am indeed too cruelly hurt to be able to talk longer
on the subject. Suffer me therefore once more to bid you a good day!'

But the encreasing gloom of his countenance, and forced calm of his
manner, appeared to be symptoms so unfavourable, that Mrs. Stafford
thought there was no hope of being able to prevent an immediate and
fatal meeting between him and Fitz-Edward but by engaging him in a
promise at least to delay it; this she attempted by the most earnest
arguments, and the most pressing persuasions; but all she could obtain
was an assurance that he would remain at Bath 'till the next day, and
see her again in the evening.

In the mean time the delirium of Lady Adelina, (which had recurred at
intervals ever since the transient sight she had of her brother) more
frequently, and with more alarming symptoms, returned; and the fever
which had at first threatened the loss of her life, now seemed to be
fixing on her brain, and to menace, by a total deprivation of reason,
reducing her to a condition to which death itself must be preferable.
She still, even in her wildest wanderings, knew Emmeline, and still
caressed her little boy; but much of her time passed in incoherent and
rambling discourse; in which she talked of Fitz-
