 Stafford recommended it to him to bring Lady Adelina to London with
him, as the affection Emmeline had for her would inevitably give her
great influence. Godolphin, in answer to this advice, only shook his
head; and Mrs. Stafford remained uncertain of his intentions to follow
it.

A few days now elapsed without any extraordinary occurrence. Emmeline
thought less of the impending restoration of her fortune (for of it's
restoration Mr. Newton assured her he had no doubt), than of him with
whom she hoped to share it. She impatiently longed to hear from Lady
Adelina that he was with her: and sometimes her mind dwelt with painful
solicitude on Lady Westhaven and Delamere, for whose health and safety
she was truly anxious, and of whom she had received no account since her
arrival in London.

As she was performing the promise she had made to Godolphin of writing
to Lady Adelina by an early post, Le Limosin announced Mr. James Crofts;
who immediately entered the room with his usual jerking and familiar
walk. Emmeline, who incapable as she was of hating any body, yet felt
towards him a disgust almost amounting to hatred, received him with the
coldest reserve, and Mrs. Stafford with no more civility than was
requisite to prevent his alledging her rudeness and impatience as
reasons for not settling the business on which she concluded he came.

He began with general conversation; and when Mrs. Stafford, impatient to
have done with him, introduced that which went more immediately to the
adjustment of the affair she wished to settle, he told her, that being
extremely unwilling to discuss a matter of business with a _lady_, and
apprehensive of giving offence to one for whom he and his dear Mrs.
Crofts had so sincere a regard, he had determined to leave all the
concerns yet between them to his attorney; a man of strict honour and
probity, to whom he would give her a direction, and to whom it would be
better for _her_ attorney to apply, than that they should themselves
enter on a topic whereon it was probable they might differ.

Mrs. Stafford, vexed at his dissimulation and finesse, again pressed him
to come to a conclusion without the interference of lawyers. But he
again repeated the set speech he had formed on the occasion; and then
addressing himself to Emmeline, asked smilingly, and affecting an
interest in her welfare, 'whether the information he had received was
true?'

'What information, Sir?'

'That Miss Mowbray has the most authentic claim to the estate of her
late father.'

'It is by no means an established claim
