I now could perceive that she had
something in her hand resembling a letter. This she placed near my hand
--so near as almost to touch it. She leaned over me--I felt her breath
upon my brow, but never moved. At this instant, a tress of her hair,
becoming unfastened, fell over upon my face. She started--the motion
threw me off my guard, and I looked up. She gave a faint, scarce audible
shriek, and sank into the chair beside me. Recovering, however, upon the
instant, she grasped the letter she had just laid down, and, having
crushed it between her fingers, threw it into the fire. This done--as if
the effort had been too much for her strength--she again fell back upon
her seat, and looked so pale I almost thought she had fainted.

Before I had time to speak, she rose once more; and now her face was
bathed in blushes, her eyes swam with rising tears, and her lips trembled
with emotion as she spoke.

"Oh, Mr. Lorrequer, what will you--what can you think of this? If you
but knew--;" and here she faltered and again grew pale, while I with
difficulty rising from the sofa, took her hand, and led her to the chair
beside it.

"And may I not know?" said I; "may I not know, my dear"--I am not sure
I did not say dearest--"Miss Bingham, when, perhaps, the knowledge might
make me the happiest of mortals?"

This was a pretty plunge as a sequel to my late resolutions. She hid her
face between her hands, and sobbed for some seconds.

"At least," said I, "as that letter was destined for me but a few moments
since, I trust that you will let me hear its contents."

"Oh no--not now--not now," said she entreatingly; and, rising at the same
time, she turned to leave the room. I still held her hand, and pressed
it within mine. I thought she returned the pressure. I leaned forward
to catch her eye, when the door was opened hastily, and a most
extraordinary figure presented itself.

It was a short, fat man, with a pair of enormous moustaches, of a fiery
red; huge bushy whiskers of the same colour; a blue frock covered with
braiding, and decorated with several crosses and ribbons; tight
pantaloons and Hessian boots, with long brass spurs. He held a large
gold-headed cane in his hand, and looked about with an expression of very
equivocal drollery, mingled with fear.

"May I ask, sir," said I, as this individual closed the door behind him,
"may I ask the reason for this intrusion?"

"Oh, upon my conscience, I'll do--I'm sure to