Part 71 (1/2)

When she had appeased her feelings sufficiently to be able to speak, I found that, like her brother, she was coan by blah opposed reat energy of feeling to persuade ht I took the first favourable opportunity to interrupt her; and enquired if she had seen or heard any thing of Wakefield since the letter he wrote? She answered, he had been with her above an hour that very

'In what temper of mind was he?'

'Extremely exasperated'

'Not at you?'

'Oh no: at Lord Bray: at your persecutors: at the world in general He says you are not fit to live in it: you are nohim, contrary to all history and experience, that men are capable of virtue and happiness In short, he owns that he was more than half convinced: but that he believes he shall be obliged to relapse into his former opinions'

'I have persuaded him?'

'So he says'

'When? Where?'

'I cannot tell I thought from his discourse that he had ed in this conversation, Charlotte again entered; and told entleman of the name of Wakefield, who desired to see me 'Is it possible?' exclaimed Miss Wilmot

The door opened, and he appeared 'Belmont!' cried I, with surprise

'Why did you announce yourself by the name of Wakefield?'

He stretched out his hand tohimself replied 'The farce is over'

'What do you mean?'

'That I suppose you will despise h I love you, I too despise to fear you I have done you various wrongs My name is Wakefield I have been one of the infernal instru you here: but I am come to iveyour conteestible term: but I deserved it; and you applied it toan affront I know you are as brave as you are generous Till I htmy evasive raillery, I felt your hand uponin you that excited my envy, at first; and afterward, perhaps, a better passion What damned accidents they were that made me what I have been I cannot tell I know not what I shall be: but I knohat I am I disdain penitential promises If you will be my friend, here is ether'

Thus invited, could I refrain? Oh no I cannot describe the scene that passed We did not embrace, for ere no actors; and, as our passions for a ti for utterance, ere silent

Miss Wil down her cheeks, her countenance assu like it, while she exclaimed--'This is a happy day!'

Her eye firsthis head, and said--'Lydia! When ere alone, I could just endure to look at you: but now I cannot Yet I am an ass What is done is done

The affections that I have are yours: but I hts I know I have nothing to fear fros in the course of a short life'

Wakefield then rang the bell, and desired the bailiff would send iht be settled, and I released; and to call, as he knew they must for form's sake, and see that there were no ive these directions, I could not but ask his nation, 'do you suppose that I am come to cant about virtue? That, at least, is a vice of which you have never yet found uilty I am here to pay your debts, with money in my possession Whether, in a court of law, it would be proved to be yours orbetter that I do knohich is that, if I were in your place and you inlet me remain in a house like this With respect to the future, I am partly persuaded we shall neither of us act the ain exclaimed--'This is a happy day!'

Wakefield was impatient to see me released; and ell acquainted with bailiffs 'If you are expeditious,' said he to George, 'you will have a guinea for your industry If you are dilatory, not a farthing ave the s; and in less than an hour the debt was discharged, and a receipt in full delivered