ABSTRACT
I hope my readers, if they have had patience to come to the beginning of this chapter, are by this time somewhat interested in the story, and that they are longing to know who the unfortunate lady is, that I have endeavoured to recommend to their attention, and for whose recovery all that were about her seem so much concerned. She is as yet unknown even at Mr. Evans’s, and perhaps it may be her desire to continue for some time longer in obscurity; though certainly no young lady whatever has less reason to shun the public eye, as none could surpass her either in beauty or virtue. e only motive she can have for wishing to be some time longer concealed, arises from the very cause that would make a lady less delicate and considerate ambitious of declaring herself, namely, her rank./ But though this might be a reason to a mind like hers, to keep Evans in the dark, because she hated to give trouble, or to oppress her inferiors with the splendour of her title, yet it can be none with me to deny that satisfaction to the reader; – and I shall therefore take this opportunity, while the venerable curate and his family are asleep, and are therefore in no danger of overhearing us, to disclose the secret.
