"Is it then possible," cried Sir Clement, "that you have not seen these verses?"
"I hardly know," answered I, "whether any body has."
"I assure you," said Mrs. Selwyn, "if you give me the invention of them, you do me an honour I by no means deserve."
"I wrote down in my tablets," said Sir Clement, "the stanzas which concern Miss Anville this morning at the pump-room; and I will do myself the honour of copying them for her this evening."
"But why the part that concerns Miss Anville?" said Mrs. Selwyn; "Did you ever see her before this morning?"
"O yes," answered he, "I have had that happiness frequently at Captain Mirvan's. Too, too frequently!" added he, in a low voice, as Mrs. Selwyn turned to the milliner: and as soon as she was occupied in examining some trimmings, he came to me, and almost whether I would or not, entered into conversation with me.
"I have a thousand things," cried he, "to say to you. Pray where are you?"
"With Mrs. Selwyn, Sir."
"Indeed!-then, for once, chance is my friend. And how long have you been here?"
"About three weeks."
"Good Heaven! what an anxious search have I had, to discover your abode, since you so suddenly left town! The termagant, Madame Duval, refused me all intelligence. Oh, Miss Anville, did you know what I have endured! the sleepless, restless state of suspense I have been tortured with, you could not, all cruel as you are, you could not have received me with such frigid indifference?"
"Received you, Sir!"
"Why, is not my visit to you?" Do you think I should have made this journey, but for the happiness of again seeing you?"
"Indeed it is possible I might,-since so many others do."
"Cruel, cruel girl! you know that I adore you! you know you are the mistress of my soul, and arbitress of my fate!"
Mrs. Selwyn then advancing to us, he assumed a more disengaged air, and asked, if he should not have the pleasure of seeing her in the evening at the assembly?
"Oh, yes," cried she, "we shall certainly be there; so you may bring the verses with you, if Miss Anville can wait for them so long."
"I hope then," returned he, "that you will do me the honour to dance with me?"