id not hesitate a moment about leaving all your friends here in
England, and resolving to hasten over to try, at least, what can be done
for the noble sufferer.

Had he praised me highly for this my address to him, it would have
looked, such was the situation on both sides, as if he had thought this
disinterested behaviour in me, an extraordinary piece of magnanimity and
self-denial; and, of consequence, as if he had supposed I had views upon
him, which he wondered I could give up. His is the most delicate of
human minds.

He led me to my seat, and taking his by me, still holding my passive
hand--Ever since I have had the honour of Miss Byron's acquaintance, I
have considered her as one of the most excellent of women. My heart
demands alliance with hers, and hopes to be allowed its claim; though
such are the delicacies of situation, that I scarcely dare to trust
myself to speak upon the subject. From the first, I called Miss Byron my
sister; but she is more to me than the dearest sister; and there is a
more tender friendship that I aspire to hold with her, whatever may be
the accidents, on either side, to bar a further wish: and this I must
hope, that she will not deny me, so long as it shall be consistent with
her other attachments.

He paused. I made an effort to speak: but speech was denied me. My
face, as I felt, glowed like the fire before me.

My heart, resumed he, is ever on my lips. It is tortured when I cannot
speak all that is in it. Professions I am not accustomed to make. As I
am not conscious of being unworthy of your friendship, I will suppose it;
and further talk to you of my affairs and engagements, as that tender
friendship may warrant.

Sir, you do me honour, was all I could say.

I had a letter from the faithful Camilla. I hold not a correspondence
with her: but the treatment that her young lady met with, of which she
had got some general intimations, and some words that the bishop said to
her, which expressed his wishes, that I would make them one more visit at
Bologna, urged her to write, begging of me, for Heaven's sake, to go
over. But unless one of the family had written to me, and by consent of
others of it, what hope had I of a welcome, after I had been as often
refused, as I had requested while I was in Italy, to be admitted to the
presence of the lady, who was so desirous of one interview more?--
Especially, as Mrs. Beaumont gave me no encouragement to go, but the
contrary, from what s