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 mistress, force me to desire—to request—that to-morrow morning—or any part of to-morrow  it might be possible that I could  or rather that you should be able to  to hear something that  that "

The total silence with which he listened, shewed so palpably his expectation of some competent reason for so singular an address, that her inability to clear herself, and her chagrin in the idea of forfeiting any part of an esteem which had proved so often her protection, grew almost insupportably painful, and she left her phrase unfinished; yet considered her commission to be fulfilled, and was moving away.

"To-morrow," he said, "I meant to have accompanied my brother, whose affairs—whatever may be his fate—oblige him to return to town: but if if to-morrow—"

He had now, to impede her retreat, stept softly between her and the staircase, and perceived, in her blushes, the