^^ Dearest Lady Fitzhenl*y, I would not for the world give
you false hopes; but, I still repeat, that all will be welf; you
deserve to be happy, and heavep will take care that you shall
be so. F^tzhenry has been infatuated, blinded, deceived,
every way. But his eyes are now opened, and (not for the
world would I deceive you, even to give you one moment of
false happiness), trust me, he admires and loves you; I wa&_
certain such excellence could not long be thrown away upiiST
one so fitted to appreciate it. The fatal madness which bias
hitherto rendered him insensible to his real happiness, is now
at an end — on my honour it is.
*' I have time for no more; the carriage is at the door; I
am only waiting for Fitzhenry ; he bsows I am writing to you ;
you shall ere long hear from me again.'*

ft

Emmeline hardly knew what to conclude from this letter ;
she read it over and over. Sometimes she interpreted its
contents favourably to her feelings ; but, in general, the im-
pression it left was not that of hope. She believed Pelham^
when he told her that Fitzhenry's connexion with Lady Flo-
l*ence'was at an end; she must believe such solemn assu-
ranees ; but what had she gained P Her rival, no longer the cause,
still her husband fled from her. What could that mean, but
that still she had to encounter settled, determined aversion P
for he was leaving England without one word, one attempt
at reconciliation — and with no time even named for his re-
turn. In short, in spite of Pelham's encouragement, she felt
but too well convinced their separation was for ever.
