 troubling you with the
present application.'

'No, Madam, you might _not_. I assure you I have talked, and reasoned,
and argued some time with Mr. James Crofts, before I could induce, and
prevail upon, and dispose him to wait, and remain, and continue unpaid,
until this arrangement and disposition could take place. He wants the
money, Madam, for a particular purpose; and tho' from my heart I grieve,
and lament, and deplore the necessity of the measure, I do assure you,
Madam, nothing else will give you any chance of winding up, compleating,
and terminating the business before us. You will therefore, Madam,
think, and consider, and reflect on it's necessity, and give your final
answer to my son James, who will wait for it only 'till to-morrow
morning.'

He then rang his bell; and saying he had an appointment with Lord
Montreville, who must already have waited for him, he made a cold bow
and hastened out of the room.







Mrs. Stafford now saw that nothing remained but to follow her husband to
a prison, or prevail on him to go to the Continent while she attempted
anew to settle his affairs.

Obstinate even in despair, she had the utmost difficulty to convince him
of the necessity of this measure; and would never, perhaps, have done
it, if the more persuasive argument of a writ, taken out by James
Crofts, had not driven him to embrace it rather than go into
confinement.

Mrs. Stafford with difficulty procured money to furnish him for his
journey, and saw him depart for Dover; while she herself returned to
Emmeline, who had passed the three weeks of her absence in great
uneasiness. No news had been received of Delamere; and she now believed,
that of the promise he had forced from her he meant not to avail
himself; yet did not relinquish it; but in proud and sullen resentment,
disdained even to enquire whether he had justly harboured anger against
her. She wished to have withdrawn a promise she could no longer think of
without pain and regret; but she found Mrs. Stafford so unhappy, that
she could not resolve to oppress her by complaints; and after some
struggles with herself, determined to let the matter take it's course.

Willingly, however, she consented to accompany her friend to France;
where Mrs. Stafford, at her husband's request, now determined to go with
her family. She had found an opulent tradesman in a neighbouring town,
who engaged, on receiving
