Part 71 (2/2)

Just as this account was closed, another er came from a different quarter The anxiety of Miss Wilmot had induced her to take a bold step In the first erief, she wrote to Olivia; and informed her of every circumstance, as well as of the place ofletter, and the bills inclosed; as mentioned in its contents

'I have no words to speak s I have never yet had an opportunity, since I thought the love I bear you justifiable, to declare theue a distrust of you, which would degrade nified virtues by which your conduct is guided

Every new fact that I hear of you does but increase that affection; which I find ennobled by being so worthily placed After the proofs you have so repeatedly given, it would be cowardice and hypocrisy to say less

'I inclose you five hundred pounds They are uilty of an action which I know you could not approve They are what I have reserved, froent occasion Surely there can be few ent than the present Your refusal of them would wound me to the soul It would breakmore

OLIVIA MOWBRAY'

Who will tell me that virtue is not its oard? Who will affirm that to conquer selfish desires, to render the passions subservient to reason, and to make those principles we commend in others rules for ourselves, is not the way to be happy? The tide of joy was full to overflowing! And yet, when I recollected that, though no longer a prisoner it was denied s of my heart and pass the threshold of Olivia, how suddenly did it ebb!

CHAPTER XVI

_A journey to aid Hector once er: A discovery of great iratulations of friends, with other less events; and hasten to one which gave aturn to my affairs than even any that I had yet experienced The o down into the county of : agreeable to the desire of Hector Of this I infor before: but, as I was becoo by the coach

When he heard this, Mr Hilary so post, he believed he could find ly bear half the expence

I enquired who? and found it was no other than the stranger He had been down into Caeshi+re, to settle so for a journey into my native county, for purposes which he will hireeable than this could not have been reed that we should meet and breakfast with Mr Hilary When I made the appointment, Mr Hilary pressed me with unusual earnestness not to be induced to break it, by any accident whatever

The er was there He had slept at the house of Mr Hilary 'This, sir,' said the latter, presenting entleman of whose acquaintance you are so very desirous'

The stranger regarded reat emotion in his countenance, asked--'Are you, sir, the hu; and by whose care I a?'

'I hope, sir, you do not think there was any thing extraordinary in what I did?'

'I wish I had not reason so to think How many there are who, from mean and selfish motives, would have passed me I cannot say: but there are few indeed that would have discharged the office you undertook with so enerous benevolence I am in your debt, sir, not only for my recovery, for which I can never repay you, but literally for money expended I shall forbear thanks, for I have none that are adequate; but suffer ations'

'I understand, sir, that you are rich, and I am not I therefore inform you, without hesitation, I left twenty pounds with the physician'

'You may well suppose that I returned, after my recovery, to enquire for s; and of the anxiety hich, after your journey, you caun And I own, sir, that I was so desirous of seeing a person who, in the very fervour of youth, could act and feel as you have done that, one excepted, you are the man on earth I am most happy toco been a wanderer, and a my absence, the elder branches of ht back with me more than sufficient for my oants: but their property has descended to me, and I now very unexpectedly find myself wealthy'

'And have you no descendants, sir?'

'None I am at present in search of a distant relation: whom if I should find, and find hie have pictured him, I shall be one of the happiest of men To make this and another enquiry is the purpose of the journey I now land, I had no intention ever to return: I therefore resolved to hold no correspondence with the persons whoht not revive the uish By accident, about eighteenthen at Grand Cairo I was infor been dead This determined me to settle my concerns abroad, and revisit my native country As however my informer spoke only from report, I am desirous, before I make myself known, to verify this fact I have my reasons; which, from what I have said, you may suspect to be those of resentment But not so; they are only what I conceive to be necessary precautions Acri since died away; and I have but too much cause to condeed The relation, whom I hope to find, I may unfortunately discover to be more likely to misuse the wealth, that has devolved to me by the death of the elder branches ofto himself and others It is true he is not my heir at law I have no heir: what I possess is at reatest favourite: and I would avoid any action that should excite hopes which it ratify'

This short narrative was not merely delivered with a serious air; but it was accompanied with soer unusually interesting It likewise excited various wild yet not ier to pursue the discourse Mr Hilary, whose led with doubt, had not informed him of my name

'Is the person,' said I, 'in search of who, or old?'