This infamous scroll had no sooner been perused by Delamere, than fury flashed from his eyes, and anguish seized his heart. But the moment the suddenness of his passion gave way to reflection, the tumult of his mind subsided, and he thought it must be an artifice of his mother's to separate him from Emmeline. The longer he considered her inveterate antipathy to his marriage, the more he was convinced that this artifice, unworthy as it was, she was capable of conceiving, and, by means of the Crofts, executing, if she hoped by it to put an eternal conclusion to his affection. He at length so entirely adopted this idea, that determining 'to be revenged and love her better for it,' and to settle the matter very peremptorily with the Crofts' if they had been found to interfere, he obtained a tolerable command over his temper and his features, and joined Lady Montreville and Miss Delamere, whom he found reading letters which they also had received from England. His mother asked slightly after his; and, in a few moments, Mr. Crofts arrived, asking, with his usual assiduity, after the health of Lord Montreville and that of such friends as usually wrote to her Ladyship? She answered his enquiries--and then desired to hear what news Sir Richard or his other correspondents had sent him? 'My father's letters,' said he, 'contain little more than an order to purchase some particular sort of wine which he is very circumstantial, as usual, in telling me how to forward safely. He adds, indeed, that he can allow my absence no longer than until the 20th of September.'--He sighed, and looked tenderly at Miss Delamere. 'I have no other letters,' continued he, 'but one from James.' 'And does he tell you no news,' asked Lady Montreville? 'Nothing,' answered Crofts, carelessly, 'but gossip, which I believe would not entertain your Ladyship.' 'Oh, why should you fancy that,' returned she--'you know I love to hear news, tho' about people I never saw or ever wish to see.' 'James has been at Mr. Stafford's at Woodfield,' said he, 'where your Ladyship has certainly no acquaintance.' 'At Woodfield, Sir?' cried Delamere, unable to express his anxiety--'at Woodfield!--And what does he say of Woodfield?' 'I don't recollect any thing very particular,' answered Crofts, carelessly--'I believe I put the letter into my pocket.' He took it out. 'Read it to us Crofts'--said Miss Delamere. ----'I have lately passed a very agreeable month at Woodfield. We were a large party in the house. Among other pleasant circumstances, during my stay there, was a ball and _fête champêtre_, given by Mr. Conway on his son's coming of age. It was elegant, and well conducted beyond any entertainment of the sort I ever saw. There were forty couple, and a great number of very pretty women; but it was agreed on all hands that Miss Mowbray would have eclipsed them all, who unluckily declined going. She left Woodfield a day or two afterwards.'