Part 40 (2/2)

Gracious God! What were the throbs the thrillings, the love, the indignation, the transports, of my soul! How did a few moments raise and allay in me the ind of the passions! How did my frame tremble, and madden, and shi+ver, and burn! Hoerewith frenzy and locked in silence! It was el that protected me, that pleaded for me, that awed me to patience, and that repaid by her seraphic praise the virtue she had inspired!

Oh, yes, it was Olivia! It was she herself that had the justice, the fortitude, and the affection, to assert the dignity of truth, to controvert an overbearing aunt whom she revered, for this aunt had her virtues, and to speak in defiance of that hypocrisy which inculcates the silence that intends to deceive, and which teaches females that sincerity is an unpardonable vice

CHAPTER XI

_False conclusions rectified: A lover's reveries: The dangers of a stage-coach, in a dark night and a fog: The discovery of more old acquaintances, and the journey pursued_

It has been truly renified eled with the most ludicrous When the divine Olivia had ended, there was ano doubt on the advantages of which he had been deprived, and to the enjoy his reive now if I understood all that these ladies were saying as well as you do!'

'_Est-ce donc que Monsieur scait parler Francois?_--What, sir! Can you speak French?' said the aunt with a burst of surprise

'Yes, madam,' answered I; in a low and tremulous voice

'_Gesu Maria! Chi l'avrebbe pensato! Parliaht it! Let us speak Italian, Miss,' continued she: but, suddenly recollecting herself, added--'Perhaps, sir, you speak that language, too?'

'Yes, madam'

A dead silence ensued; which was only once or twice interrupted by an exclamation of discontent frohts:the ht to act I could come to no determination To be seen by the aunt would not only have wounded her pride, and if possible have rendered her more implacably my mortal enemy than she had been, but it would have subjected Olivia, toho with affection, to a series of new assaults and persecutions Nay the sudden sight of erous effects Such at least were the whisperings either of my tenderness or my vanity And yet to miss this opportunity, to acquaint her with none of those overwhel sensations that were all thankfulness, love, and adoration, and not so , still perhaps capable of all the good that she had ever supposed of led to conceal her emotions when she mentioned my death, and that I had saved her life! Should I deserve this tenderness, if I could leave her to grieve a er? Such unkindness were not only unworthy of ht even risk her compliance to the proposed match

And here a torrent of painful anxieties and surht fully to er the rival I had to dread A lord had entered the lists: a peer of the realm had sued for Olivia Who could he be? Was it likely that she should long withstand the solicitations of her aunt, endure her bitter upbraidings, and suffer the rude taunts of her brother, while rank and splendor were courting her acceptance, while coronets were crouching at her feet and supplicating her compassion? Which of our ancient barons could he be? How should I learn? Was he young, handsoh qualities which iination is so apt to attach to the word noble?

Another train of conjecture seized upon hts How did it happen that they should believe me dead? Who were the authors of this false report? It must surely be intentional deceit; perhaps of the aunt, perhaps of Hector; invented to induce her to coe I must not suffer it to continue The aunt appeared to believe it; and that Olivia had no doubt of it was certain My fears confirmed me in the suspicion that it was a fath awakened from these reveries by the aunt; who expressed her surprise and i of the coachh not re before the coach stopped, when I perceived that ere in an unco Olivia was still silent, but the aunt was alarmed by the voices of er ofknown, I opened the coach-door and jumped out; and Clarke followedCranford-bridge at the beginning of Hounslow-heath, that a broad-wheeled waggon had approached, and that the coachhted to lead his horses, lest we should be overturned He had trusted the reins to the footman who remained on the box

By the caution of the coachht proper to ain: but he durst not venture to drive fast; and, as I was alarmed for the safety of Olivia, I and Clarke continued beside the horses

We had not gone fifty yards before ere again entangled with a ti, had turned it across the road

The waters, which lie in the hollows on the Hounslow-side of the bridge, had been greatly increased by the late tean to snort with more veheht; and one of theed, and terrified the rest: so that the two fore-horses, quitting the road, dashed into the water, dragged the coach after them in despite of the driver, and the near-wheels were hurried down the bank

It fortunately happened that the declivity was not steep enough immediately to overturn the coach; otherwise Olivia and her aunt would probably have lost their lives

Bewildered by the fog, neither I nor Clarke could act with that proot to the horses' heads, myself above the knees in water, and stopped them just in time I called to Clarke to co and determined, I coe, lest it should overturn

The coachht on the off-side The footman did the same; and I, with an air of authority which the circumstances inspired, ordered them to come to me and support the coach They obeyed I hastened round to the other side, opened the door, first took out the aunt, and then accomplished the wish of my heart: I held the lovely Olivia once more in my arms, and once more pressed her to my bosom, without the least alarm to her delicacy

For how many rapturous moments are lovers indebted to accident! Mine indeed would have been a single bliss, and therefore unworthy the name, had not the tenderness and the truth of Olivia so lately been manifested But this addition made the transport undescribable! To be in my arms yet not to know me, but to suppose me dead, to feel my embrace and to have no suspicion that it was the embrace of love, to be once ination! Strong as thou art, thy power is insufficient for the repetition of such a scene, for the co to part with er any pretence to retain 'Pray, sir, put entle, and a thankful voice 'We are very safe now: for which both I and my aunt are infinitely indebted to you'

I couldof that too ardent rashness of which the aunt had accused entleman My behaviour proved it She should be very proud to thank me, in a more proper place, for ation if I would do her the favour to call in Hertford-street

Olivia was not one of those who think only of theood, sir,' said she, 'as to take us out of danger, perhaps you could be serviceable to the poor coachman'