, at
this time, would only disturb her mind, and do her an injury.

Chloe, from the vent she had given her grief in speaking to Caelia,
found herself something more easy and composed; and desiring the room to
be made perfectly quiet, she fell into a gentle sleep, which lasted two
hours; and when she awaked she found herself so much better, that those
about her were convinced, from her composed manner of speaking, that she
was now able to bear another interview.

They again called for Caelia, and told her of her cousin's amendment.
She flew with all speed to her chamber; and the moment she entered,
Chloe cried out, 'Can you forgive me, Caelia?' 'Yes, with the greatest
joy and sincerity imaginable, my dearest Chloe,' answered Caelia, 'and
never let it be again mentioned or remembered.'

The sudden recovery of Chloe was almost incredible; for in less than a
week she was able to quit both her bed and room, and go into her aunt's
chamber. The good old lady shed tears of joy, to see such a return of
Chloe's health, and of cheerfulness in the family; and was perfectly
contented, now she saw their melancholy removed, not to inquire into the
late cause of it, for fear of renewing their trouble even one moment by
the remembrance of it.

Sempronius, in the meantime, upon some affairs of his duty in the army,
had been called away, and was absent the whole time of Chloe's illness,
and was not yet returned. Caelia spent almost her whole time with Chloe;
but three weeks passed on, and they were often alone; yet they had never
once mentioned the name of Sempronius, which laid Caelia still under
the greatest difficulty how to act, so as to avoid giving her friend any
uneasiness, and yet not disoblige Sempronius; for she had promised
him at his departure, that she would give him leave to ask her aunt's
consent immediately upon his return. But the very day he was expected,
she was made quite easy by what passed between her and her friend.

Chloe, in this time, by proper reflections, and a due sense of Caelia's
great goodness and affection to her, had so entirely got the better
of herself in this affair, that she found she could now, without any
uneasiness, see them married; and calling Caelia to her, she said with a
smile, 'I have, my dear friend, been so long accustomed to read in that
intelligible index, your countenance, all your most inmost thoughts,
that I have not been unobserving of those kind fears you have had on
my account;