Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/65

 "I accompanied her on this journey, remained with her a few days, and then parted from her to return to the metropolis. It was not imagined that it would be necessary to prolong her absence beyond a month. When I bade her farewell, and informed her on what day I proposed to return for her, I felt no decay of my satisfaction; my thoughts were bright and full of exultation. Why was not some intimation afforded me of the snares that lay in my path? In the train laid for my destruction, the agent had so skilfully contrived that my security was not molested by the faintest omen.

"I hasten to the crisis of my tale: I am almost dubious of my strength; the nearer I approach to it, the stronger is my aversion; my courage, instead of gathering force as I proceed, decays. I am willing to dwell still longer on preliminary circumstances: there are other incidents, without which my story would be lame: I retail them, because they afford me a kind of respite from horrors, at the thought of which every joint in my frame trembles: they must be endured; but that infirmity may be forgiven which makes me inclined to procrastinate my suffering.

"I mentioned the lover whom my patroness was compelled, by the machinations of her brother, to discard. More than twenty years had passed since their separation. His birth was mean, and he was without fortune: his profession was that of a surgeon. My lady not only prevailed upon him to abandon his country, but enabled him to do this by supplying his necessities from her own purse. His excellent understanding was, for a time, obscured by passion; but it was not difficult for my lady ultimately to obtain his concurrence to all her schemes. He saw and adored the rectitude of her motives, did not disdain to accept her gifts, and projected means for maintaining an epistolary intercourse during their separation.

"Her interest procured him a post in the service of the East India Company. She was, from time to time, informed of his motions. A war broke out between the Company and some of the native powers: he was present at a great battle, in which the English were defeated: she could trace him by his letters and by other circumstances thus