CHAP. VII., Povera affetti miei! Se non fanno impetrar dal tuo bel core ALONE in her own room, Althea collected her confufed and diffipated thoughts. The first surprise she had felt now gave way to the pity, respect, and apprehenfion for his fafety, with which the manner and the narrative of Marchmont had infpired her, mingled with a sense of the impropriety of her own fituation; of which fhe would probably have been lefs painfully fenfible, had fhe not been confcious that there was fomething more than compaffion in the extreme concern fhe felt for March mont. Befides the too great probability there was, that the fiend who hung with fuch unappeafable rancour on the purfuit would foon force him from his concealment, Althea dreaded left even from that remote spot the whisper of malignity might reach her father and Lady Dacres; and fhould that happen, it might be of the utmost prejudice to Marchmont, and create in regard to herself fufpicions and opinions which it might never afterwards be in her power to obliterate. A young man of Marchmont's defcription concealed for a long space of time in a houfe of which fhe was the oftenfible inhabitant, must give rise to much scandal were it known; and fince it was fufpected by Vampyre, it was but too probable that he would affert it, and convey the affertion fomehow or other to Sir Audley (to whom indeed he was known), known), in the hope that by the means of his interference Marchmont might be driven from his afylum, and, by the difpleasure his feeking it might. create, raise another powerful and vindictive enemy in the perfon of Sir Audley Dacres. Tormented and perplexed by these thoughts, Althea could not determine what advice fhe fhould give to the unfortunate fugitive. It feemed best to propose his quitting England-yet where could he obtain money, and whither fhould he go?-The latter question it was, perhaps, eafier to anfwer, even in the prefent confused state of affairs on the continent, than it was to fay, where he fhould find the means of conveying himself thither-fince, though he did not confefs it, fhe was convinced by his manner that his pecuniary exigences were fuch as made his attempting fuch a journey impoffible. With that timid deference to the opinion of the world, which is an amiable feature in the character of a young woman, Althea had also that strength of mind that enabled her to be decided when her understanding and confcience told her she was right. In confidering, therefore, how far fhe could in this way affift him, fhe put aside every other reflection but that of the pleasure it would give her to refcue a fellow-creature from fo cruel a fate as that which hung over Marchmont. For any deferving perfon fhe felt that fhe would have made the fame exertion: yet fhe did not deny even to herself, that the perfonal merit of Marchmont, the promise of profperous fortune fo cruelly difappointed, his filial piety, and the fair expectations of his youth unhappily blafted, contributed to produce in his favour a more lively intereft than fhe would have been fenfible of for almoft any other being. On On examining her ftock of money, which fince her refidence at Eaft Woodleigh fhe had but little diminished, fhe found it confifted of twelve guineas, and two Bank notes of twenty pounds each (the remains of fifty pounds, which fhe had been paid out of Mrs. Trevyllian's property), and twenty-five which Sir Audley had given her for the expences of her journey: fince which he had never fent her any fupply, fuppofing (if he thought about it at all) that at Eaftwoodleigh fhe could have no occafion for money; and it was true that, except her little charities, fhe had neither wifh nor opportunities of indulging in any expence. Of the fum then in her poffeffion Althea could well fpare five-and-forty guineas, which fhe thought might, with fome fmall fum he probably poffeffed himself, be fufficient to fecure the retreat of Marchmont to Holland or France. But the forefaw, that to offer it to him. would H 4 |