promised
to communicate tidings of his safety by every opportunity.

Belding, Mr. Hadwin's next neighbour, though not uninfected by the
general panic, persisted to visit the city daily with his _market-cart_.
He set out by sunrise, and usually returned by noon. By him a letter was
punctually received by Susan. As the hour of Belding's return
approached, her impatience and anxiety increased. The daily epistle was
received and read, in a transport of eagerness. For a while her emotion
subsided, but returned with augmented vehemence at noon on the ensuing
day.

These agitations were too vehement for a feeble constitution like hers.
She renewed her supplications to Wallace to quit the city. He repeated
his assertions of being, hitherto, secure, and his promise of coming
when the danger should be imminent. When Belding returned, and, instead
of being accompanied by Wallace, merely brought a letter from him, the
unhappy Susan would sink into fits of lamentation and weeping, and repel
every effort to console her with an obstinacy that partook of madness.
It was, at length, manifest that Wallace's delays would be fatally
injurious to the health of his mistress.

Mr. Hadwin had hitherto been passive. He conceived that the entreaties
and remonstrances of his daughter were more likely to influence the
conduct of Wallace than any representations which he could make. Now,
however, he wrote the contumacious Wallace a letter, in which he laid
his commands upon him to return in company with Belding, and declared
that by a longer delay the youth would forfeit his favour.

The malady had, at this time, made considerable progress. Belding's
interest at length yielded to his fears, and this was the last journey
which he proposed to make. Hence our impatience for the return of
Wallace was augmented; since, if this opportunity were lost, no suitable
conveyance might again be offered him.

Belding set out, as usual, at the dawn of day. The customary interval
between his departure and return was spent by Susan in a tumult of hopes
and fears. As noon approached, her suspense arose to a pitch of wildness
and agony. She could scarcely be restrained from running along the road,
many miles, towards the city; that she might, by meeting Belding
half-way, the sooner ascertain the fate of her lover. She stationed
herself at a window which overlooked the road along which Belding was to
pass.

Her sister and her father, though less impatient, mark