r schemes, I
doubted not but the letter was to revoke or suspend your resolution; and
probably to serve instead of a meeting too. I therefore let it lie, that
if you did revoke, you might be under the necessity of meeting me for
the sake of the expectation you had given me: and as I came prepared, I
was resolved, pardon me, Madam, whatever were your intentions, that you
should not go back. Had I taken your letter I must have been determined
by the contents of it, for the present at least: but not having
received it, and you having reason to think I wanted not resolution in
a situation so desperate, to make your friends a personal visit, I
depended upon the interview you had bid me hope for.'

Wicked wretch, said I; it is my grief, that I gave you opportunity to
take so exact a measure of my weakness!--But would you have presumed to
visit the family, had I not met you?

Indeed I would. I had some friends in readiness, who were to have
accompanied me to them. And had your father refused to give me audience,
I would have taken my friends with me to Solmes.

And what did you intend to do to Mr. Solmes?

Not the least hurt, had the man been passive.

But had he not been passive, as you call it, what would you have done to
Mr. Solmes?

He was loth, he said to tell me--yet not the least hurt to his person.

I repeated my question.

If he must tell me, he only proposed to carry off the poor fellow, and
to hide him for a month or two. And this he would have done, let what
would have been the consequence.

Was ever such a wretch heard of!--I sighed from the bottom of my heart;
but bid him proceed from the part I had interrupted him at.

'I ordered the fellow, as I told you, Madam, said he, to keep within
view of the garden-door: and if he found any parley between us, and any
body coming (before you could retreat undiscovered) whose coming might
be attended with violent effects, he should cry out; and this not only
in order to save himself from their suspicions of him, but to give me
warning to make off, and, if possible, to induce you (I own it, Madam)
to go off with me, according to your own appointment. And I hope all
circumstances considered, and the danger I was in of losing you for
ever, that the acknowledgement of that contrivance, or if you had not
met me, that upon Solmes, will not procure me your hatred: for, had they
come as I expected as well as you, what a despicable wretch had I been,
could I have left yo