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54 Poor Emily felt only fatigue; and while she accepted Mr. Spenser's assistance with all the gratitude of utter exhaustion, said faintly, "I will rejoice over our escape to-morrow." And Cecil—though he observed that the little feet, seen distinctly as they trod in the bright circle made by the torch, took faint and uncertain steps, and that the hand placed on his arm obviously shewed it clung in sheer helplessness—somewhat forgot, in the pleasant task of assistance, his pity for her sufferings. In the meantime, the servants, who had returned to the villa, had, of course, thrown the whole household into confusion. A messenger was immediately despatched to Lord Mandeville, whom, from his master's having left Naples, he managed to miss on the road. However, he comforted himself by giving very particular accounts of how his mistress had been barbarously murdered by banditti; and the good city talked incessantly of the murder, till set right next day by the greater marvel of the escape. An accident to one of his carriage-wheels delayed Lord Mandeville, who did not arrive at home till just before day break. To his no small surprise, lights, voices, &c. were