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Rh, turning upon her his soul-melting eyes, he rejoined with vehemence, "In like manner, were your affections withdrawn from me, I should cease to live; I should become at once destitute of all that can animate, refresh, or invigorate my existence."

He paused, overpowered by the energy he had thrown into his speech. Oriana, though still troubled, felt sensibly revived; he was about proceeding, but she urged the necessity of returning without delay to the cottage, before her too long absence might occasion somebody to come in quest of her.

Guided by her advice, they strolled gently on; in the mean time, by alternate persuasions, entreaties, and soothings, Philimore gained from Oriana the promise of maintaining a secret correspondence with him. It was from such a resource only, he assured her, that he could derive consolation, by which the pangs of separation could be alleviated. Though she had made some few objections relative to the danger and difficulty of carrying on such, without the hazard of discovery, yet without such an indulgence, Oriana, on her part, had felt how insupportably each day would pass. Yielding herself therefore implicitly to his wishes, finding that having allowed herself