ABSTRACT
After this letter, which Eversley had thus sent to Mrs. Marchmont without any reserve or alteration, it could be no longer doubted that her son’s passion for Althea was perfectly understood. Althea and Lucy had read the letter together. For awhile, anxiety for the vicissitudes he had passed through, and joy that he was in present safety, suspended every other sentiment; but the moment Althea was left to her reflections all those passages in which she was so unreservedly spoken of returned to her recollection, and overwhelmed her with confusion. She now dreaded to meet the eyes of Mrs. Marchmont, mild and dejected as they were; and more than ever it became necessary to determine what she was to do, since Marchmont only waited Eversley’s answer, which was already gone to him, to come to his mother and his family. In this uneasy situation Althea shut herself for an hour in her own room to debate the matter with herself; and she had never yet been in a predicament where it was so difficult to decide.
