Page:The Wanderer (1814 Volume 1).pdf/70

 England; but my heart can find no other vent."

"Very pretty! very pretty, indeed, Gentlemen!" said Mrs. Maple; "If you can answer all this to yourselves, well and good; but as I have not quite so easy a conscience, I think it no more than my duty to inform the magistrates myself, of my opinion of this foreigner."

She was moving off; but the stranger rushed forth, and with an expression of agonized affright, exclaimed, "Stay! Madam, stay! hear but one word! I am no foreigner,&mdash;I am English!"&mdash;

Equal astonishment now seized every one; but while they stared from her to each other, the Admiral said: "I am cordially glad to hear it! cordially! though why you should have kept secret a point that makes as much for your honour as for your safety, I am not deep enough to determine. However, I won't decide against you, while I am in the dark of your reasons; though I