Page:The Wanderer (1814 Volume 1).pdf/125

 could not herself refrain from smiling, but with a countenance so little calculated to excite distrust, that Elinor, crying, "Follow me," led the way into her dressing room.

The young woman, then, with an air that strongly supplicated for indulgence, said, "I am truly shocked at the strange appearance which I must make; but as I come now to throw myself upon your protection, I will briefly&mdash;though I can enter into no detail&mdash;state to you how I am circumstanced."

"O charming! charming!charming!" [sic] cried Elinor, clapping her hands, "You are going, at last, to relate your adventures! Nay, no drawing back! I won't be disappointed! If you don't tell me every thing that ever you did in your life, and every thing that ever you said, and every thing that ever you thought,&mdash;I shall renounce you!"

"Alas!" answered the Incognita, "I am in so forlorn a situation, that I must not wonder if you conclude me to be