The day seemed rather long to Ethel, who counted the hours until Thursday. Gladly she laid her head on the pillow at night, and bade adieu to the foregone hours. The first thing that awoke her in the morning, was the postman's knock; it brought, as she had been promised, a long, long letter from Edward. He had never before written with so much affection or with such an overflowing of tenderness, that made her the centre of his world--the calm fair lake to receive into its bosom the streams of thought and feeling which flowed from him, and yet which, after all, had their primal source in her. "I am a very happy girl," thought Ethel, as she kissed the beloved papers, and gazed on them in ecstasy; "more happy than I thought it was ever given us to be in this world." She rose and began to dress; she delayed reading more than a line or two, that she might enjoy her dearest pleasure for a longer time--then again, unable to controul her impatience, she sat half dressed, and finished all--and was begining anew, when there was a tap at her door. It was Fanny. She looked disturbed and anxious, and Ethel's fears were in a moment awake. "Something annoying has occurred," she said; "yet I do not think that there is any thing to dread, though there is a danger to prevent." "Speak quickly," cried Ethel, "do not keep me in suspense." "Be calm--it is nothing sudden, it is only a repetition of the old story. A boy has just been here--a boy you gave a sovereign to--do you remember?--the night of your arrival. It seems that he has vowed himself to your service ever since. Those two odious men, who were here once, are often at his master's place-an alehouse, you know. Well, yesterday night, he overheard them saying, that Mr. Villiers's resort at the London coffee-house, was discovered, or at least suspected, and that a writ was to be taken out against him in the city." "What does that mean?" cried Ethel. "That Mr. Villiers will probably be arrested to-day, or to-morrow, if he remains where he is." "I will go directly to him," cried Ethel; "we must leave town at once. God grant that I am not too late!" Seeing her extreme agitation, Fanny remained with her--forced her to take some breakfast, and then, fearing that if any thing had really taken place, she would be quite bewildered, asked her permission to accompany her. "Will you indeed come with me?" Ethel exclaimed, "How dear, how good you are! O yes, do come--I can never go through it all alone; I shall die, if I do not find him."