ABSTRACT
Montgomery, though he owned that Chesterville could not have acted otherwise than he did, was vexed that this affair had happened, as he knew it would give new force to the report, and extremely hurt Ethelinde, from whom, however, he determined to conceal it if possible. He was pretty well persuaded that Royston would sooner read a public recantation than meet Chesterville with pistols; but he thought that to let the matter drop with a private apology was the most desirable termination, and this he determined if possible to bring about. Every hour encreased his uneasiness in regard to the situation of Ethelinde. In a few days her brother and his wife were to go to Portsmouth to embark for the West Indies: their departure would make her continuing with Sir Edward infinitely more improper; yet she inexorably continued to refuse to put herself into the only protection which could secure her from the inconveniences of her destiny, and refused it for reasons which he thought unfounded. Though he highly respected and esteemed Sir Edward Newenden, he was by no means content that Ethelinde should remain with him; receiving continually new obligations, deeply impressed with the recollection of those she and her family already owed him: and when he reflected that Sir Edward might possibly obtain a divorce, and be enabled to offer Ethelinde that place which it was evident he would be happy to have her fill, the most uneasy and corrosive apprehensions took possession of his heart: and certain as he was of Ethelinde’s affection for him, fear, jealousy, and mistrust, found their way into his liberal mind, and made almost insupportable the idea of quitting England; of which he sometimes thought as a duty he owed his mother, himself, and her for whose sake only he desired independence; and sometimes he fancied that to remain with them, though to share an income hardly sufficient for their support, was more consistent with his tenderness, and with their happiness, than any advantage he might gain for them by leaving them.
