It was plain that some connection subsisted between her and Welbeck.
Would she drop the subject at the point which it had now attained? Would
she cease to exert herself to extract from me the desired information,
or would she not rather make Welbeck a party in the cause, and prejudice
my new friend against me? This was an evil proper, by all lawful means,
to avoid. I knew of no other expedient than to confess to him the truth
with regard to Clavering, and explain to him the dilemma in which my
adherence to my promise had involved me.

I found him on my return home, and delivered him the letter with which I
was charged. At the sight of it, surprise, mingled with some uneasiness,
appeared in his looks. "What!" said he, in a tone of disappointment,
"you then saw the lady?"

I now remembered his directions to leave my message at the door, and
apologized for my neglecting them by telling my reasons. His chagrin
vanished, but not without an apparent effort, and he said that all was
well; the affair was of no moment.

After a pause of preparation, I entreated his attention to something
which I had to relate. I then detailed the history of Clavering and of
my late embarrassments. As I went on, his countenance betokened
increasing solicitude. His emotion was particularly strong when I came
to the interrogatories of Mrs. Wentworth in relation to Clavering; but
this emotion gave way to profound surprise when I related the manner in
which I had eluded her inquiries. I concluded with observing that, when
I promised forbearance on the subject of my own adventures, I had not
foreseen any exigence which would make an adherence to my promise
difficult or inconvenient; that, if his interest was promoted by my
silence, I was still willing to maintain it, and requested his