The inexhaustible woman only went on more fluently than ever.

"She is so grateful, sir, and so proud of your goodness in
looking at her exercises. The difficulty of the French language
seem as nothing to her, now her motive is to please you. She is
so devoted to her studies that I find it difficult to induce her
to take the exercise necessary to her health; and, as you may
perhaps remember, Susan was always rather weakly as a child. She
inherits her father's constitution, Mr. Lepel--not mine."

Here, to my infinite relief, the servant appeared, announcing
that my horse was at the door.

Mrs. Rymer opened her mouth. I saw a coming flood of apologies on
the point of pouring out--and seized my hat on the spot. I
declared I had an appointment; I sent kind remembrances to Susan
(pitying her for having such a mother with my whole heart); I
said I hoped to return to my uncle's house soon, and to continue
the French lessons. The one thing more that I remember was
finding myself safe in the saddle, and out of the reach of Mrs.
Rymer's tongue.

Reflecting on what had passed, it was plain to me that this woman
had some private end in view, and that my abrupt departure had
prevented her from finding the way to it. What motive could she
possibly have for that obstinate persistence in presenting poor
Susan under a favorable aspect, to a man who had already shown
that he was honestly interested in her pretty modest daughter? I
tried hard to penetrate the mystery--and gave it up in despair.