received
in regard to writing to her. But painful as it was, she determined to
forbear; and steadily to adhere to that line of duty, however difficult
to practice, that only could secure the peace of her mind, by the
acquittal of her conscience; which, as she had learned from Mrs.
Stafford, as well as from her own experience, short as it was, could
alone support her in every trial to which she might be exposed.

She reflected on her present situation, compared to what it would have
been had she been prevailed upon to become the wife of Delamere against
the consent of his family.

Splendid as his fortune was, and high as his rank would raise her above
her present lot of life, she thought that neither would reconcile her to
the painful circumstance of carrying uneasiness and contention into his
family; of being thrown from them with contempt, as the disgrace of
their rank and the ruin of their hopes; and of living in perpetual
apprehension lest the subsiding fondness of her husband should render
her the object of his repentance and regret.

The regard she was sensible of for Delamere did not make her blind to
his faults; and she saw, with pain, that the ungovernable violence of
his temper frequently obscured all his good qualities, and gave his
character an appearance of ferocity, which offered no very flattering
prospect to whosoever should be his wife.

By thus reasoning with herself, she soon became more calm, and more
reconciled to that destiny which seemed not to design her for Delamere.

She met with no remarkable occurrence in her journey; and on the evening
of the third day arrived in town; where the servant who attended her was
ordered to dismiss the chaise, and to procure her an hackney coach, in
which she proceeded to the house of Mrs. Ashwood.

This residence, situated in a populous village three miles from London,
bore the appearance of wealth and prosperity. The iron gate, which gave
entrance into a large court, was opened by a servant in a laced livery,
to whom Emmeline delivered the letter she had brought from Mrs.
Stafford, and after a moment's waiting the lady herself came out to
receive her.

Emmeline, by the splendour of her dress, concluded she had left a large
company: but being ushered into a parlour, found she had been drinking
tea alone; of which, or of any other refreshment, Miss Mowbray was
desired to partake.

Her reception of her visitor was perfectly cordial; and Emmeline soon
recovering her easy and composed manner, Mrs. Ashwood seemed very much
pleased with her guest;