usual wild way, though he saw the dejection and concern of the party; a circumstance that more than ever disgusted Celestina, who began some time before to doubt whether the credit which Vavasour had for good nature was not given him on very slender foundations: for to be so entirely occupied by his own pleasures and pursuits as to be incapable of the least sympathy towards others, to be unable or unwilling to check for one moment his vivacity in compliment to their despondence, seemed to Celestina such a want of sensibility, as gave her a very indifferent opinion of his heart.
Mrs. Elphinstone quitted the room to make the last preparations for her departure: but Cathcart, who had fettled every thing before, remained with Celestina and Vavasour. He would have given the world to have passed these moments in conversation with her; but the presence of a third person, and especially of Vavasour, put an end to all hope he had of an opportunity of

explaining to her, with that tenderness and caution which the subject required, some circumstances relative to Willoughby's fortune, which had lately come to his knowledge. New embarrassments seemed threatening him; and a law suit, involving part of the property which belonged to Alvestone estate, seemed likely to encrease these embarrassments; while the mortgagees were gradually undermining the estate itself; and the absence of the master encreased the impatience and mistrust of those who had claims upon it.
All this, Cathcart thought Celestina ought to know; yet in their first interview that morning he had not courage to tell her of it, and now Vavasour left him no chance of doing it; for while he yet deliberated, the coach sent by Lady Horatia Howard stopped at the door, and the moment was come in which he was to take his leave of her.
He took her hand, and kissed it with an air of grateful respect; but he could only

say—"I shall write to you in a few days, and, I hope, give you a good account of my sister and of Jessy."
"I hope you will," returned Celestina faintly.
"And," added he, "you will of course like to hear of all that passes material in our neighbourhood?"
"Certainly I shall," replied she. "Adieu, dear Sir. I cannot say much, but you know what I feel for you all."
Vavasour had taken her hand to lead her down stairs; but she disengaged it from him, and said to Cathcart, as she gave it to him—"Let us go to your sister." He led her