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46 him as he made towards the door. Curiosity or compassion determined Mrs. Belmour to prevent his going, until she had obtained from him a disclosure as to the cause which thus so strangely affected him.

"Nay," exclaimed she, springing forward and laying her hand on the lock of the door, "I assume the privilege of old acquaintanceship, and you must positively not go until you have told me what it is that thus afflicts you, or promise to do so at another time."

Suffering himself to be led back, he placed himself beside her, and, without further ceremony, revealed in the clearest and fullest manner, the state in which he was placed respecting the ardent passion consuming him, the secret advances he had already made, and the continual fears tormenting him of meeting with a failure in consequence of Sir Howard's advances.

"Sir Howard!" interrupted Mrs. Belmour, "can it be possible that Sir Howard is paying his addresses elsewhere, and to another? Having nearly pledged himself—to me," she was about saying, but checked herself;—whilst her whole countenance reddened, and displayed the strongest expression of jealousy.

Melliphant inwardly rejoiced that his plan had so far succeeded.

"It is, my dear Mrs. Belmour," said he, affecting total ignorance as to her obvious displeasure against Sir Howard, "to solicit your kind interference effectually to oppose the views of Sir Howard, that I am