'There is,' reassumed Lady Adelina, 'but one being on earth who resembles him:--it is my Emmeline! If ever two creatures eminently excelled the rest of their species, it is my friend and my brother!' Something throbbed at the heart of Emmeline at these words, into which she was afraid to enquire: her engagement to Delamere, yet uncancelled, lay like a weight upon it; and seemed to impress the idea of her doing wrong while she thus listened to the praises of another; and felt that she listened with too much pleasure! She asked herself, however, whether it was possible to be insensible of the merit of Godolphin? Yet conscious that she had already thought of it too much, she wished to change the topic of discourse--But Lady Adelina still pursued it. 'Lord Westhaven,' said she, 'my elder brother, is indeed a most respectable and excellent man. Equally with my brother William, he inherits from my father, integrity, generosity and nobleness of mind, together with a regularity of morals and conduct, unusual in so young a man even in any rank of life, and remarkable in him, who has passed almost all his in the army. But he is, tho' not yet thirty, much older than I am, and has almost always been absent from me; those who know him better, have told me, that with as many other good qualities as William, he has less softness of temper; and being almost free from error himself, makes less allowance for the weakness of others. Such, however, has been the management of my younger brother, that the elder knows not the truth of my circumstances--he does not even suspect them. You may very possibly see him and Lady Westhaven abroad. I know I need not caution my Emmeline--she will be careful of the peace of her poor friend.' Emmeline soon satisfied Lady Adelina on that head, who then asked when she heard of Delamere? This question Emmeline had foreseen: but having predetermined not to distress her unfortunate friend, by telling her into what difficulties her attendance on her and her child had led her, and being shocked to own herself the subject of suspicions so injurious as those Delamere had dared to harbour, she calmly answered that Delamere was returned to England, but that she had seen him only for a few moments. 'And did he not object,' enquired Lady Adelina, 'to your quitting England, since he is himself returned to it?' Emmeline, who could not directly answer this question, evaded it by saying-- 'My absence or my presence you know cannot hasten the period, 'till the arrival of which our marriage cannot take place--_if_ it ever takes place at all.' '_If_ it ever takes place at all?' repeated Lady Adelina--'Does then any doubt remain of it?' 'An affair of that sort,' replied Emmeline, assuming as much unconcern as she could, 'is always doubtful where so many clashing interests and opposite wishes are to be reconciled, and where so very young a man as Mr. Delamere is to decide.'