re care and prudence to subdue."

This new anxiety diverted my thoughts, for the time, from the
difficulties of my own position, and I roused and exerted
myself in order to be allowed to leave my room, the solitude
of which I dreaded in my present state of restless excitement;
but society seemed to me still more trying when I had to
encounter it. I could hardly bear to hear the occurrences of
the day discussed. Everybody was informed of what I had done;
and the praises which were bestowed on my courage and presence
of mind, were uttered with smiles and tones which proved to
me, that if they were not aware of all the circumstances of
the case, it was at least sufficiently evident that the
feelings which had prompted me at the moment had been
attributed to their true cause. Rosa, especially, tormented me
by allusions and playful attacks, which I could hardly bear
with patience; and at last I showed my annoyance in so marked
a manner, that she abstained from any farther reference to the
subject.

Later in the evening, when the doctor came again, he found
Edward's fever much increased; and when this intelligence was
brought to the drawing-room, Rosa showed true and warm
sympathy in the anxiety which I could no longer conceal.

A few minutes afterwards, Mrs. Middleton beckoned me out of
the room, and told me that Edward was in a state of intense
nervous irritation, which was the more extraordinary, from its
contrast with his usual calm and quiet disposition. "He is
quite unlike himself," she continued, "and can hardly be
persuaded to submit to the necessary restraint which the
doctor prescribes. He says he _must_ see you, and speak to
you, this evening; and insisted on getting up and coming to
the drawing-room. At last, I persuaded him to lie down again
on his couch, by promising that you should come to him. After
what passed between you this morning, there can be no
objection to it. Only, remember, dear child, that everything
you say to him must be calculated to soothe and calm him, for
Dr. Nevis says that he could not answer for the consequences
of any agitation or sudden emotion at this moment. This it was
that determined me to come and fetch you, when I saw him so
feverishly anxious to see you; especially, as now, I am sure,
that you can have nothing to say to him that will not have a
tranquillising effect on his nerves, and help to give him a
good night's rest, which is the greatest possible object in
his presen