 a mortgage on the estate, and ten per cent.
interest, (which he so managed as to evade the appearance of usury,) to
let her have the money to pay Mr. Crofts, and a farther sum for the
support of her family: and having got a tenant for the house, and
satisfied as many of the clamorous creditors as she could, she prepared,
with a heavy heart, to quit her abode, with Emmeline and her infant
family.

As it was necessary that little William should be sent to the Isle of
Wight before their departure, Emmeline wrote to fix a day at the
distance of a month, on which she desired Lady Adelina to send some
careful person for him. But ten days before the expiration of that
period, letters came from Mr. Stafford, in which he directed his wife,
who intended to embark at Brighthelmstone and land at Dieppe, to change
her route, and sail from Southampton to Havre. He also desired her to
hasten her journey: and as every thing was now put on the best footing
the time would allow, Mrs. Stafford immediately complied; and with her
own unfortunate family, Emmeline, and little William, (whom they now
meant to carry themselves to Lady Adelina) they left Woodfield.

The pain of quitting, probably for ever, a favourite abode, which she
feared would at length be torn from her children by the rapacity of the
law, and the fatigue of travelling with infant children, under such
circumstances, almost overcame the resolution and spirits of Mrs.
Stafford. Emmeline, ever reasonable, gentle, and consoling, was her
principal support; and on the evening of the second day they arrived at
Southampton.

While Emmeline almost forgot in her attention to her friend her own
uncertain and unpleasant state, Delamere remained in Norfolk, where he
had hid himself from the enquiries of his father, and from the
importunities of his mother, who was now, with her eldest daughter,
settled again in Berkley Square. Here he nourished inveterate resentment
against Fitz-Edward: and finding it impossible to forget Emmeline, he
continued to think of her as much as ever, but with indignation,
jealousy and rage.

He had, immediately on receiving, as he believed, a confirmation of all
those suspicions with which the Crofts' had so artfully inspired him,
resolved to demand satisfaction of Fitz-Edward; and hearing on enquiry
that he was in Ireland, but his return immediately expected, he waited
with eager and restless uneasiness till the person whom he had
commissioned to inform him of his return should send notice that he was
