Belding was without a companion.
This confirmation of her fears overwhelmed the unhappy Susan.

She sunk into a fit, from which, for a long time, her recovery was hopeless.

This was succeeded by paroxysms of a furious insanity, in which she attempted to snatch any pointed implement which lay within her reach, with a view to destroy herself.

These being carefully removed, or forcibly wrested from her, she resigned herself to sobs and exclamations.
Having interrogated Belding, he informed us that he occupied his usual post in the market-place; that heretofore Wallace had duly sought him out, and exchanged letters; but that, on this morning, the young man had not made his appearance, though Belding had been induced, by his wish to see him, to prolong his stay in the city much beyond the usual period.
That some other cause than sickness had occasioned this omission was barely possible.

There was scarcely room for the most sanguine temper to indulge a hope.