is a gossip of the first pretensions; and as to the Fitz-Hayman part of the story, their going abroad so soon after Willoughby has, I take it for granted, confirmed it in the opinion of every body."
"Are they gone abroad then?" said Celestina.
"So say the newspapers; and I fancy rightly." He then took one from his pocket and read this paragraph:
Dover, April 26, 17—
Yesterday Lord and Lady Castlenorth, and their daughter, the Hon.

Miss Fitz-Hayman, with a great retinue, sailed from hence on their way to the South of Europe.
Celestina was silent a moment; for not all her faith on the unchangeable affections of her lover could guard her from a momentary shock: recovering herself however, she said—"They may be, and I suppose are gone; but—certainly—certainly Mr. Willoughby had no share in their going. You surely do not think he had? As we know some part—great part of what you have heard, to be utterly false and unfounded, why may it not all be so? Certainly you do not believe any of it."
"Pardon me," answered Vavasour, "I believe that this young man, this Montague Thorold, is what they call in love with you; for the rest, I know some of it is false, and I believe the greatest part of it is so."
"Gracious heaven! you have doubts then, Vavasour: doubts whether Willoughby—But it is impossible you can

doubt it. You know he is all honour, generosity, integrity, and goodness."
"I know I always thought so, or I should not have loved him better than any man breathing. But don't let me alarm you; I cannot doubt when I recollect all I ever knew of my friend: yet I very honestly tell you, that the mystery he made to me of his reasons for going abroad, the gloomy reveries in which I so often saw him, his evident struggles with himself, and a thousand odd circumstances which struck me when we were last together—upon my soul, Celestina, I know not what to think, and should deceive you were I to tell you that I have no doubts: yet they arise rather from my mistrust of human nature in general than my opinion of George as an individual: but when I look at you, and remember that he was within one day of calling you his, I cannot upon any common principles account for his conduct, and am sure that no common motives can justify it."

Celestina, whose heart