 gave of herself and her family a more pleasing account.
She said she had hopes that the readjustment of Mr. Stafford's affairs
would soon allow of their return to England; and as it might possibly
happen on very short notice, and before Emmeline could rejoin them, she
had sent, by a family who were travelling to Geneva, and who readily
undertook the care of it, a large box which contained some of her
cloaths and the caskets which belonged to her, which had been long left
at Mrs. Ashwood's after Emmeline's precipitate departure from her house
with Delamere, and which, on Mrs. Ashwood's marriage and removal, she
had sent with a cold note (addressed to Miss Mowbray) to the person who
negociated Mr. Stafford's business in London.

Their lengthened journey had so much broken in on the time allotted to
their tour, that Lord and Lady Westhaven purposed staying only a month
at St. Alpin. The Baron, who had equal pride and pleasure in the company
of his nephew, endeavoured by every means in his power to make that time
pass agreeably; and felt great satisfaction in shewing to the few
neighbours who were within fifteen miles of his _chateau_, that he had,
in an English nobleman of such rank and merit, so near a relation.

He had observed very early the growing passion of his son for Miss
Mowbray. He was assured that she returned it; for he never supposed it
possible that any woman could behold the Chevalier with indifference.

He had heard from Lord Westhaven that Emmeline was the daughter of a man
of fashion, but was by the circumstances of her birth excluded from any
share of his fortune, and entirely dependant on the favour of the
Marquis of Montreville. The old Baron, charmed himself with her person
and her manners, rather approved than opposed the wishes of his son; and
however convenient it might have been to have seen him married to a
woman of fortune, he was disposed to rejoice at his inclining to marry
at all; and convinced that with Emmeline he must be happy, thought he
might dispense with being rich. The Chevalier, confident of success, and
believing that Emmeline had meant by her timid refusals only
encouragement, grew so extremely importunate, that she was sometimes on
the point of declaring to him her real situation.

But from this she was deterred by the apprehension that he would apply
to Lord Delamere for the relinquishment of her promise; and should he
obtain it, consider himself as having a claim to the hand his Lordship
resigned.

This was an hope, which whatever his
