and must therefore rely upon you to acquaint her what is become of me."

"Most certainly; I have begged her to remain here to-night, and I hope
I shall prevail with her to continue with me till Dr Lyster's arrival;
after which she will, doubtless, be guided either in staying longer, or
removing elsewhere, by his advice."

"You are all goodness," said he, with a deep sigh; "and how I shall
support--but I mean not to return hither, at least not to this house,
--unless, indeed, Dr Lyster's account should be alarming. I leave my
mother, therefore, to your kindness, and only hope, only entreat, that
your own health,--your own peace of mind--neither by attendance upon
her--by anxiety--by pity for her son--"

He stopt, and seemed gasping for breath; Cecilia turned from him to
hide her emotion, and he proceeded with a rapidity of speech that
shewed his terror of continuing with her any longer, and his struggle
with himself to be gone: "The promise you have made in both our names
to my mother, I shall hold myself bound to observe. I see, indeed, that
her reason or her life would fall the sacrifice of further opposition:
of myself, therefore, it is no longer time to think.--I take of you no
leave--I cannot! yet I would fain tell you the high reverence--but it
is better to say nothing--"

"Much better," cried Cecilia, with a forced and faint smile; "lose not,
therefore, an instant, but hasten to this good Dr Lyster."

"I will," answered he, going to the door; but there, stopping and
turning round, "one thing I should yet," he added, "wish to say,--I
have been impetuous, violent, unreasonable,--with shame and with regret