conference on such a subject might be too painful to sustain, it was agreed upon that the best mode of proceeding would be for Oriana to explain herself to Philimore by letter, which she might find means of delivering to him at their next interview.
Having complied with this arrangement, Oriana waited the decision, her thoughts being constantly occupied with anxious impatience upon the subject. A whole day had elapsed without the appearance of Philimore; a second passed, neither was Dr. Lovesworth visible; the next came, and still neither the guests, nor news of them arrived. The space of these three days seemed to Oriana an age.
The General was about taking a walk to the Hermitage to inquire after his friends, when Mrs. De Brooke proposed accompanying him with her daughters, as she was sometimes in the habit of doing. Nothing could have been more in concurrence with the wishes of Oriana; yet it was with tremulous footsteps she entered with her parents and sister the Doctor's library, where they found him and Philimore together, each occupied in reading.
The first salutation of welcome over, and inquiries made on either side—"I have kept the
