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MYSTERIES

OF

UDOLPH O.

CHA P. I.

"Is all the council that we two have shared, -the hours that we have spent,

When we have chid the hafty-footed time

For parting us

-Oh! and is all forgot?

And will you rent our ancient love afunder?"

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.

IN the evening, when Emily was at length

informed, that Count de Villefort requested to fee her, fhe gueffed that Valancourt was below, and, endeavouring to affume composure and to recollect all her fpirits, the rofe and left the apartment; but on reaching the door of the library, where fhe imaVOL. IV.

B

gined

gined him to be, her emotion returned with fuch energy, that, fearing to truft herself in the room, fhe returned into the hall, where fhe continued for a confiderable time, unable to command her agitated spirits.

When she could recall them, fhe found in the library Valancourt, feated with the Count, who both rofe on her entrance; but she did not dare to look at Valancourt, and the Count, having led her to a chair, immediately withdrew.

Emily remained with her eyes fixed on the floor, under fuch oppreffion of heart, that he could not fpeak, and with difficulty breathed; while Valancourt threw himself into a chair befide her, and, fighing heavily, continued filent, when, had the raised her eyes, fhe would have perceived the violent emotion he fuffered.

At length, in a tremulous voice, he faid, "I have folicited to fee you this evening, that I might, at leaft, be fpared the further torture of fufpenfe, which your altered manner had occafioned me, and which the

hints I have just received from the Count have in part explained. I perceive I have enemies, Emily, who envied me my late happiness, and who have been bufy in searching out the means to destroy it: I perceive, too, that time and absence have weakened the affection you once felt for me, and that you can now eafily be taught to forget me."

pac

"what a

His laft words faltered, and Emily, lefs able to speak than before, continued filent. "O what a meeting is this.!" exclaimed Valancourt, ftarting from his feat, and ing the room with hurried fteps, meeting is this, after our long-long separation!" Again he fat down, and, after the ftruggle of a moment, he added in a firm but defpairing tone, "This is too muchI cannot bear it! Emily, will you not speak

to me ?"

He covered his face with his hand, as if to conceal his emotion, and took Emily's, which he did not withdraw. Her tears could no longer be reftrained; and, when B 2

he

he looked up and perceived that he was weeping, all his tenderness returned, and a gleam of hope appeared to cross his mind, for he exclaimed, "O! you do pity me, then, you do love me! Yes, you are ftill my own Emily-let me believe those tears, that tell me fo!"

Emily now made an effort to recover her firmness, and, haftily drying them, "Yes," faid fhe," I do pity you-I weep for you -but, ought I to think of you with affection? You may remember that yefter-evening, I faid, I had ftill fufficient confidence in your candour to believe, that, when I fhould request an explanation of your words, you would give it. This explanation is now unneceffary, I understand them too well; but prove, at least, that your candour is deferving of the confidence I give it, when I ask you, whether you are confcious of being the fame eftimable Valancourt-whom I once loved."

"Once loved!" cried he,-" the famethe fame !" He paused in extreme emotion,

and

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