'Forgive, forgive me!' cried he, eagerly: 'I comprehend all that Miss Joddrel can have to say. But my impatience is irrepressible upon a far different subject; one that awakens the most lively interest, that occupies my thoughts, that nearly monopolizes my memory; and that exhausts--yet never wearies my conjectures.--That letter you were so good as to mention to me?--and the plan you may at length decide to pursue?--permit me to hope, that the communication you intend me, has some reference to those points?' 'I should be truly glad of your counsel, Sir, in my helpless situation: but I am not at this moment at liberty to speak for myself;--Miss Joddrel--' Her embarrassment now announced something extraordinary; but it was avowedly not personal; and Harleigh eagerly besought her to be expeditious. 'You must make me so, then,' cried she, 'by divining what I have to reveal!' 'Does Miss Joddrel relent?--Will she give me leave to summon my brother back?' 'Oh no! no! no!--far otherwise. Your brother has been indifferent to her ... ever since she has known him as such!' She thought she had now said enough; but Harleigh, whose faculties were otherwise engaged, waited for further explanation. 'Can you not,' said Ellis, 'or will you not, divine the reason of the change?' 'I have certainly,' he answered, 'long observed a growing insensibility; but still--' 'And have you never,' said Ellis, deeply blushing, 'seen, also,--its reverse?' This question, and yet more the manner in which it was made, was too intelligible to admit of any doubt. Harleigh, however, was far from elated as the truth opened in his view: he looked grave and disturbed, and remained for some minutes profoundly silent. Ellis, already ashamed of the indelicacy of her office, could not press for any reply. 'I am hurt,' he at length said, 'beyond all measure, by what you intimate; but since Miss Joddrel has addressed you thus openly, there can be no impropriety in my claiming leave, also, to speak to you confidentially.' 'Whatever you wish me to say to her, Sir,--' 'And much that I do not wish you to say to her,' cried he, half smiling, 'I hope you will hear yourself! and that then, you will have the goodness, according to what you know of her intentions and desire, to palliate what you may deem necessary to repeat.' 'Ah, poor Miss Joddrel!' said Ellis, in a melancholy tone, 'and is this the success of my embassy?' 'Did you, then, wish--' Harleigh began, with a quickness of which he instantly felt the impropriety, and changed his phrase into, 'Did you then, suspect any other?' 'I was truly sorry to be entrusted with the commission.'