'Accursed! doubly accursed be the infamous villain who has driven her to this! And must I bear it tamely! Oh! injured memory of my father!--oh! my poor, undone sister!' He walked about the room; the tears ran from his eyes; and Mrs. Stafford, fearing that his hurried step and deep sobs would be heard by Lady Adelina, determined to bring the scene to a crisis and not to lose the influence she hoped she had gained on his mind. She therefore went into the other room, and shutting the door, advanced with a smile towards the lovely lunatic. 'What will you say, my dear Adelina, if I bring you the best news you can possibly hear?' 'News!' repeated Lady Adelina, looking at her with eyes which too plainly denoted her unsettled mind--'News!--Ah! dear Madam! I know very well that all the world is happy but me; and if you are happy, I am very glad; but as to _me_--Do you indeed think it is reasonable I should part with him?' 'With whom?' said Mrs. Stafford. 'Why, one condition which they insist upon is, that I should give up my poor little one to them, and never ask to see him again. William was the most urgent for this--William, who used to be so good, so gentle, so compassionate to every body! Alas! he is now more cruel and relentless than the rest!' 'So far from it,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'your brother William loves you as much as ever; he will come and tell you so himself if you will only be composed, and talk less strangely.' 'To see _me_!' exclaimed she, as if suddenly recovering her recollection--'Oh! when?--where?--how?' But again it forsook her; and she continued-- 'Ah! he comes perhaps to tell me of the blood he has spilt, and to load me with reproaches for having obliged him to destroy a friend whom he once loved. If that is indeed so, why let him come and plunge another dagger in this poor heart, which has always loved him!' She was silent a moment, and then languidly went on-- 'I thought some time since that I saw him, and Miss Mowbray was with him; but it was only a dream, for I know he is in Jamaica: and when he _does_ come home, he will harden his heart against me--he will be my judge, and sternly will he judge me--he will forget that he is my brother!' 'Never! my poor Adelina,' cried Godolphin, rushing into the room, 'never can I forget that I am your brother--never can I cease to feel for you compassion and tenderness.' He would have taken her in his arms; but struck by the dreadful alteration that appeared in her face and figure, he stopt short, and looking at her with silent horror, seemed incapable of uttering what he felt. She knew him; but could neither speak or shed a tear for some moments. At length, she held out to him her emaciated hand. 'It is _indeed_ William!' said she. 'He seems, too, very sorry for me. My dear brother, do you then pardon and pity the poor Adelina?'