The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)Burney, Fanny
History
The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 5 of 5)
Burney, Fanny
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Refugees -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Refugees -- Fiction; War stories
'And where, Sir,' cried Juliet, surprized into vivacity and pleasure at
this unexpected hearing, 'how, and where have they been recovered?'
Harleigh now blushed himself, at the blushes which he knew he must raise
in her cheeks, as he replied, that the packet and the work-bag which he
had brought, had been dropt in his room at the inn.
Crimson is pale to the depth of red with which shame and confusion dyed
her face; while Harleigh, recovering his voice, sought to relieve her
embarrassment, by more rapidly continuing his discourse.
'I should sooner have endeavoured to deliver these articles, but that I
knew not, till yesterday, that they had fallen to my care. I had left
the inn, to follow, and seek Sir Jaspar Herrington; but having various
papers and letters in my room, that I had not had time to collect, I
obtained leave to take away the key with me, of the landlady, to whom I
was well known,--for there, or in that neighbourhood, an irresistible
interest has kept me, from the time that, through my groom, I had
heard ... who had been seen ... at Bagshot ... entering the Salisbury
stage!--Yesterday, when I returned, to the inn, I first perceived these
parcels.'--
He stopt; but Juliet could not speak, could not look up; could pronounce
no apology, nor enter into any explanation.
'Sir Jaspar Herrington,' he continued, 'whom I have just left, is still
at Salisbury; but setting out for town. From him I learnt your immediate
direction; but not knowing what might be the value of the packets,
nor,--' He hesitated a moment, and then, with a sigh, added, 'nor how to
direct them! I determined upon venturing to deliver them myself.'
The tingling cheeks of Juliet, at the inference of the words 'nor how to
direct them,' seemed on fire; but she was totally silent.
'I have carefully sealed them,' he resumed, 'and I have delivered them
to the woman of the cottage, for the young lady who at present sleeps
there; and, hearing that that young lady was walking in the
neighbourhood, I ventured to follow, with this intelligence.'
'You are very good, Sir,' Juliet strove to answer; but her lips were
parched, and no words could find their way.
This excess of timidity brought back the courage of Harleigh, who,
advancing a step or two, said, 'You will not be angry that Sir Jaspar,
moved by my uncontrollable urgency, has had the charity to reveal to me
some particulars....'
'Oh! make way for me to pass, Mr Harleigh!' now interrupted Juliet,
forcing her voice, and striving to force a passage.
'Did you wish, then,' said Harleigh, in a tone the most melancholy,
'could you wish that I should still languish in harrowing suspense? or
burst with ignorance?'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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