I have secretly encouraged the addresses of this gentleman.

Nay, if the plague had not broken out in our house to-night, I should have flown from it with him." "You shock me, greatly, child," returned Mrs.Bloundel; "but you relieve me at the same time.

Make a clean breast, and hide nothing from me." "I have nothing more to tell, dear mother," replied Amabel, "except that Maurice Wyvil has been in the room ever since you left it, and might, perhaps, have carried me off in spite of my resistance, if you had not returned when you did." "It was, indeed, a providential interference," rejoined Mrs.Bloundel.
"From what a snare of the evil one--from what a pitfall have you been preserved!" "I feel I have had a narrow escape, dear mother," replied Amabel.
"Pardon me.

I do not deserve your forgiveness.

But I will never offend you more." "I forgive you from my heart, child, and will trust you," returned Mrs.
Bloundel, in a voice broken by emotion.
"That is more than I would," thought Maurice Wyvil.