to bear.

Caelia had absolutely refused granting to Sempronius leave to ask her
aunt's consent, till she should come to some explanation with Chloe,
which seemed every day farther off than ever.

The great perturbation of Chloe's mind threw her into a disorder not
many degrees short of madness; and at last she was seized with a violent
fever so as to keep her bed. She said she could not bear to look on
Amanda; but begged Caelia to be with her as much as possible; which she
did, in hopes of bringing herself to ease her mind, by speaking to her
of what had given them all this torment.

Caelia watched with her night and day for three days, when the physician
who attended her pronounced that there was no hope of her life. Caelia
could not any longer bear to stay in the room, and went downstairs,
expecting every moment to hear she was expired.

Chloe soon perceived by Caelia's abrupt leaving the room, and the looks
of those who were left in it, that her fate was pronounced; which,
instead of sinking her spirits, and making her dejected, gave a
tranquillity to her mind; for she thought within herself, 'I shall now
make my dear cousin happy, by removing out of her way an object that
must embitter all her joy; and now likewise, as she is convinced I am on
my death-bed, she will once more believe me capable of speaking truth;
and will, in the manner I could wish, receive my sincere repentance.'
Then sending for Caelia up to her bedside, she in a weak voice, with
hardly strength for utterance, spoke in this manner: 'My dear Caelia,
though you know me to be a worthless base wretch, yet do not think so
hardly of me, as to imagine I would deceive you with my last breath.
Believe me then when I tell you, that I sincerely repent of my treachery
towards you; and as sincerely rejoice that it has in reality been
the cause of your happiness with Sempronius. Tell him this; and then,
perhaps, he will not hate my memory.' Here she fainted away, and they
forced Caelia out of the room, thinking her breath was for ever flown.
But in some time she came again to herself, and cried out, 'What! would
not my dear Caelia say that she forgave me? Methinks I would not die,
till I had obtained her pardon. She is too good to refuse her friend
this last request.' Her attendants then told her, that seeing her faint
away, they had forced Caelia out of the room; and they begged her to try
to compose herself, for they were sure that seeing her friend again