insist upon seeing me, in defiance of every obstacle, and in contempt
of my prohibition?"

"Good heavens," cried he, amazed, "whence this reproach? Did you not
permit me to wait upon you with the result of my enquiries? Had I not
your consent--but why do you look thus disturbed?--Your eyes are red,
--you have been weeping.--Oh my Cecilia! have I any share in your
sorrow?--Those tears, which never flow weakly, tell me, have they--has
_one_ of them been shed upon my account?"

"And what," cried she, "has been the result of your enquiries?--Speak
quick, for I wish to know,--and in another instant I must be gone."

"How strange," cried the astonished Delvile, "is this language! how
strange are these looks! What new has come to pass? Has any fresh
calamity happened? Is there yet some evil which I do not expect?"

"Why will you not answer first?" cried she; "when _I_ have spoken, you
will perhaps be less willing."

"You terrify, you shock, you amaze me! What dreadful blow awaits me?
For what horror are you preparing me?--That which I have just
experienced, and which tore you from me even at the foot of the altar,
still remains inexplicable, still continues to be involved in darkness
and mystery; for the wretch who separated us I have never been able to
discover."

"Have you procured, then, no intelligence?"

"No, none; though since we parted I have never rested a moment."