ABSTRACT
Lady Harriet's letter which was enclosed in this had fallen to the ground when Selena hastily unfolded the papers, and it was some time before she thought of perusing it so entirely was her whole soul engrossed by the agitating consideration of Robert's proposal. Words can never paint the emotion visible in the whole agitated frame of Clara as she continued to keep her eyes fixed upon the paper. Selena was now constrained to exercise all her powers of consolation to restore Clara to peace with herself, and to this end confessed to her what she had hitherto scarcely ventured to acknowledge to her own heart. Nevertheless all the feelings of Selena seemed to shrink from the acceptance of the proffered liberty, and having so long considered Dallamore as her husband it still appeared to her a crime to think with complacency upon the love of another.
