At length, having resumed her perusal of the letter, she came to the conclusion. In a kind of agony she pressed the signature to her lips; and then hastily folding up the letter, replaced it whence she had taken it, and continued sobbing bitterly. Alas, what additional poignancy did this give to the agonies of her last evening at Yatton! She had, however, become somewhat calmer by the time that she heard the door hastily, but gently tapped at, and then attempted to be opened. Miss Aubrey rose and unbolted it, and Mrs. Aubrey entered, her beautiful countenance as pale and sad as that of her sister-in-law. The former, however, was both wife and mother; and the various cares which these relations had entailed upon her, at a bitter moment like the present, served in some measure to occupy her thoughts, and prevent her from being absorbed by the heart-breaking circumstances which surrounded her. Suffering had, however, a little impaired her beauty; her cheek was very pale, and her eye and brow were laden with trouble. "Kate, dear Kate," said she, rather quickly, closing the door after her, "what is to be done? Did you hear carriage-wheels a few moments ago? Who do you think have arrived? As I fancied would be the case, the De la Zouches!" Miss Aubrey trembled and turned pale. "You must see--you _must_ see--Lady De la Zouch, Kate--they have driven from Fotheringham on purpose to take--_once more_--a last farewell! 'Tis very painful, but what can be done? You know what dear, dear, good friends they are!" "Is Lord De la Zouch come, also?" inquired Miss Aubrey, apprehensively. "I will not deceive you, dearest Kate, they are _all_ come; but _she_, only, is in the house: they are gone out to look for Charles, who is walking in the park." Miss Aubrey trembled violently; and after evidently a severe struggle with her feelings, the color having entirely deserted her face, and left it of an ashy whiteness, "I cannot muster up resolution enough, Agnes," she whispered. "I know their errand!" "Care not about their errand, love!" said Mrs. Aubrey, embracing her fondly. "You shall not be troubled--you shall not be persecuted." Miss Aubrey shook her head, and grasped Mrs. Aubrey's hand. "They do not, Agnes, they _cannot_ persecute me," replied Miss Aubrey, with energy. "It is a cruel and harsh word to use--and!--consider how noble, how disinterested is their conduct; _that_ it is which subdues me!" Mrs. Aubrey embraced still more closely her agitated sister-in-law, and tenderly kissed her forehead. "Oh, Agnes!" faltered Miss Aubrey, pressing her hand upon her heart to relieve the intolerable oppression which she suffered--"would to Heaven that I had never seen--never thought of him!" "Don't fear, Kate! that he will attempt to see you on so sad an occasion as this. Delamere is a man of infinite delicacy and generosity!" "I know he is--I know he is," gasped Miss Aubrey, almost suffocated with her emotions.