are in a worse state than I did apprehend, yet I had a large fear. I wish you good night, and very much better than you are, my Lady Anne."
With a little pressure of Georgiana's hand, the Count withdrew, looking very sorrowful, and shaking his head most ominously. Even then the young lady thought him quite as handsome as Helen had described him to be, but she was drawn from the Count to her mamma.
"What can that strange creature mean by talking of my inside, and wishing me better so emphatically? At Brighton, he spoke, I remember, of ulcers going down the throat, and sticking to the lungs. Surely, he does not apprehend any thing of that kind has taken place with me?"
"Dear mamma, Signor Riccardini was talking only of your moral health, and your imaginary debt to the publisher of your book; by wishing you 'much better,' he meant to desire you to be just and honourable as well as legal."
"I hope you are right, child; indeed, I am sure you are; but as with all his eccentric, far-fetched notions, he is no fool, and has buried both a wife and daughter, it struck me at the moment he might see something in me that resembled them, but that is impossible; I am no relation whatever to any of the set, you know."
"You are not, and I really think keeping so much
