there was more than one road, and to miss each other would have been
mortifying.

His quick eye was in every quarter; his watchful ear listened in every
direction: still she was not seen, and not a sound was heard except the
hum of day. He became nervous, agitated, and began to conjure up a
crowd of unfortunate incidents. Perhaps she was ill; that was very
bad. Perhaps her father had suddenly returned. Was that worse? Perhaps
something strange had happened. Perhaps------

Why! why does his face turn so pale, and why is his step so suddenly
arrested? Ah! Ferdinand Armine, is not thy conscience clear? That pang
was sharp. No, no, it is impossible; clearly, absolutely impossible;
this is weak indeed. See! he smiles! He smiles at his weakness. He
waves his arm as if in contempt. He casts away, with defiance, his idle
apprehensions. His step is more assured, and the colour returns to
his cheek. And yet her father must return. Was he prepared for that
occurrence? This was a searching question. It induced a long, dark
train of harassing recollections. He stopped to ponder. In what a web
of circumstances was he now involved! Howsoever he might act,
self-extrication appeared impossible. Perfect candour to Miss Temple
might be the destruction of her love; even modified to her father, would
certainly produce his banishment from Ducie. As the betrothed of Miss
Grandison, Miss Temple would abjure him; as the lover of Miss Temple,
under any circumstances, Mr. Temple would reject him. In what light
would he appear to Henrietta were he to dare to reveal the truth? Would
she not look upon him as the unresisting libertine of the hour, engaging
in levity her heart as he had already trifled with another's? For that
absorbing and overwhelming passion, pure, primitive, and profound, to
which she now responded with an enthusiasm as fresh, as ardent, and as
immaculate, she would only recognise the fleeting fancy of a vain
and worldly spirit, eager to add another triumph to a long list of
conquests, and proud of another evidence of his irresistible influence.
What security was there for her that she too should not in turn be
forgotten for another? that another eye should not shine brighter than
hers, and another voice sound to his ear with a sweeter tone?

Oh, no! he dared not disturb and sully the bright flow of his present
existence; he shrank from the fatal word that would dissolve the spell
that enchanted them, and introduce all the calc