-gined him to be, her emotion returned with fuch energy, that, fearing to truft herself in the room, fhe returned into the hall, where fhe continued for a confiderable time, unable to command her agitated fpirits.

When she could recal them, the found in the library Valancourt, feated with the Count, who both rofe on her entrance; but fhe did not dare to look at Valancourt and the Count, having led her to a chair, immediately withdrew.

Emily remained with her eyes fixed on the floor, under fuch oppreffion of heart, that she could not fpeak, and with difficulty breathed; while Valancourt threw himfelf into a chair befide her, and, fighing heavily,. continued filent, when, had fhe raised her eyes, fhe would have perceived the violent emotion he fuffered.

At length, in a tremulous voice, he said, "I have folicited to fee you this evening, that I might, at least, be fpared the further torture of fufpence, which your altered manner had occafioned me, and which the

hints

hints I have juft received from the Count have in part explained. I perceive I have enemies, Emily, who envied me my late happiness, and who have been bufy in fearching out the means to deftroy it: I perceive, too, that time and abfence have weakened the affection you once felt for me, and that you can now easily be taught to forget me."

His lat words faltered, and Emily, lefs able to speak than before, continued filent.

"O what a meeting is this!" exclaimed Valancourt, ftarting from his feat, and pacing the room with hurried fteps, "what a meeting is this, after our long-long separation!" Again he fat down, and, after the ftruggle of a moment, he added in a fi rm, but defpairing tone, "This is too muchI cannot bear it! Emily, will will you not

speak to me ?"

He covered his face with his hand, as if to conceal his emotion, and took Emily's, which he did not withdraw. Her tears could no longer be refrained; and, when

he looked up and perceived that he was weeping, all his tenderness returned, and a gleam of hope appeared to crofs his mind, for he exclaimed, "O! you do pity me, then, you do love me! Yes, you are ftill my own Emily-let me believe those tears, that tell me fo!"

Emily now made an effort to recover her firmness, and, haftily drying them, " Yes,” faid fhe, "I do pity you-I weep for you -but, ought I to think of you with affection? You may remember that yefter-evening, I faid, I had ftill fufficient confidence in your candour to believe, that, when I fhould requeft an explanation of your words, you would give it. This explanation is now unneceffary, I understand them too well; but prove, at leaft, that your candour is deferving of the confidence I give it, when I ask you, whether you are conscious of being the fame estimable Valancourt-whom I once loved."

"Once loved!" cried he- the famethe fame!" He paufed in extreme emotion,

and

and then added, in a voice at once folemn, and dejected," No-I am not the fame! -I am loft-I am no longer worthy of you!"

He again concealed his face. Emily was too much affected by this honest confeffion to reply immediately, and, while fhe ftruggled to overcome the pleadings of her heart, and to act with the decifive firmnefs, which was neceffary for her future peace, she perceived all the danger of trufting long to her refolution, in the prefence of Valancourt, and was anxious to conclude an interview, that tortured them both; yet when she confidered, that this was probably their last meeting, her fortitude funk at once, and she experienced only emotions of tendernefs and of despondency.

Valancourt, meanwhile, loft in thofe of remorfe and grief, which he had neither the power, or the will to exprefs, fat infenfible almost of the presence of Emily, his features ftill concealed, and his breaft agitated by convulfive fighs.

"Spare me the neceffity," faid Emily, recollecting her fortitude, "fpare me the neceffity of mentioning thofe circumftances of your conduct, which oblige me to break our connection for ever. We must part, I now fee you for the laft time."

Impoffible!" cried Valancourt, roufed from his deep filence, "You cannot mean what you fay!-you cannot mean to throw me from you for ever!"

"We must part," repeated Emily, with emphasis" and that for ever! Your own conduct has made this neceffary."

"This is the Count's determination," faid he haughtily, "not your's, and I fhall enquire by what authority he interferes between us." He now rofe, and walked about the room in great emotion.

"Let me fave you from this error," faid Emily, not lefs agitated-" it is my determination, and, if you reflect a moment on your late conduct, you will perceive, that my future peace requires it."

"Your future peace requires, that we

fhould