 whence he had
expectations, which could not but suffer from such a diminution of it's
wealth and interest.

The tediousness therefore that the Crofts' created promised still to
detain Emmeline in London; and her uncle's letter, which coldly and
hardly with civility deferred any conference on her affairs till the
arrival of Lord Westhaven, convinced her that from his tenderness she
had nothing, from his justice, little to hope.

Godolphin was very anxious to be allowed personally to apply to him on
the claim of his niece. But this Emmeline positively refused. She would
not even allow Mr. Newton, the lawyer to whom Lord Westhaven had
recommended her, and in whose hands her papers were safely deposited, to
write officially to Lord Montreville; but determined to wait quietly the
return of Lord Westhaven himself, on whom she knew neither the anger of
her uncle, or the artifices of Sir Richard, would make any impression;
while his Lordship's interference could not be imputed to such motives
as might possibly be thought to influence Godolphin, or would it give
her the appearance of proceeding undutifully and harshly against Lord
Montreville, which appearances she might be liable to, should she
hastily institute a suit against him.

She grew, however, very uneasy at the determined attendance of
Godolphin, whose presence she knew was so necessary to poor Lady
Adelina. She saw that he was anxious about his sister, yet could not
determine to tear himself from _her_; and to insist upon his returning
to Lady Adelina, would be to assume a right, to which, on the footing
they were, she declined pretending. She failed not, however, every day
to represent to him the long solitude in which Lady Adelina had been
left, and to read to him parts of her letters which breathed only sorrow
and depression. Whenever this happened, Godolphin heard her with
concern, and promised to set out the next day; but still something was
to be done for the service of Emmeline, and still he could not bear to
resign the delight he had now so long enjoyed of seeing her every day,
and of indulging those hopes she had tacitly allowed him to entertain.

Mrs. Stafford, notwithstanding her promise to Emmeline, had not been
able to forbear discovering to him part of the truth. Yet when he
reflected on the advantages Delamere had over him in fortune, in rank,
in the influence his family connection and his former engagement might
give him, he trembled least, if he should be himself absent when Lord
Delamere arrived, her tender and timid spirit would yield to the sorrow
of her lover and the
