But her sense of duty was too strong to
permit her to relax in her rigor, till she
found that the effects of it were such as
to endanger her lover's life. Then,
indeed, she bitterly regretted her
severity, and mentally vowed to live
and die for him alone. But how was
she to convey to him this resolution ?
She dared not apprise her mother of
her sentiments ; she had no confident,
no friend, upon whom she coald rely to
reveal them to her lover, and procure
access to him herself was impossible
In this dilemma a plan occurred to her,
which nothing but the force of love
could have enabled her to execute.
Some time before, her mother had
occupied tbe house in which Mrs. Mar
tin then resided, and Sophie had acci
dentally discovered a secret door which
opened from Mr. Bannister's chamber
into that in which she herself slept.
