, from my eagerness to leave it, I believe he afterwards
thought he had been too hasty, yet so strong was that first impression,
that the slightest circumstance would, I know, renew it as forcibly as
ever: for he has one of those tempers, which having once entertained an
idea of a person's conduct or character, never really alters it, though
they see the most convincing evidence of it's fallacy. Having once
supposed I favoured the addresses of Mr. Delamere, as you know he did,
at Mowbray Castle, the present visit will convince him he was right, and
that I am the most artful as well as the most ungrateful of beings.'

Mrs. Stafford hesitated a moment, and then said, 'I see all the evil you
apprehend. To convince Lord Montreville of your ignorance of Delamere's
design, and your total rejection of his clandestine addresses, suppose I
were to write to him? He must be prejudiced and uncandid indeed, if
after such information he is not convinced of your innocence.'

To this proposal, Emmeline consented, with assurances of the liveliest
gratitude; and Mrs. Stafford returning to her lodgings, wrote the
following letter to Lord Montreville:


                                                   _Swansea, June 20._

  'My Lord,

    'A short abode at this place, has given me the pleasure of knowing
  Miss Mowbray, to whose worth and prudence I am happy to bear
  testimony. At the request of this amiable young woman, I am now to
  address your Lordship with information that Mr. Delamere came hither
  yesterday with Mr. Fitz-Edward, and has again renewed those
  addresses to Miss Mowbray which she knows to be so disagreeable to
  your Lordship, and which cannot but be extremely prejudicial to her.
  Circumstanced as she is at this place, she cannot entirely avoid
  him; but she hopes your Lordship will be convinced how truly she
  laments the pain this improper conduct of Mr. Delamere will give
  you, and she loses not a moment in beseeching you to write to him,
  or otherwise to interfere, in prevailing on him to quit Swansea; and
  to prevent his continuing to distress her by a pursuit so unwelcome
  to you, and so injurious to her honour and repose.

                                       I have the honour to be,
                                                         my Lord,
                                                    your Lordship's
                                               most obedient servant,
                                                          C. STAFFORD.'


This letter being extremely approved of by Emmeline, was put into the
next day's post; and the two ladies set out for their walk at a very
early hour, flattering themselves they should return before Delamere and
Fitz-Edward (who was lately
