第78章

'Then do not leave me!' said Valancourt, with quickness.'Why should we part, or part for longer than till to-morrow?'

'I am, indeed I am, unequal to these moments,' replied Emily, 'you tear my heart, but I never can consent to this hasty, imprudent proposal!'

'If we could command our time, my Emily, it should not be thus hasty;we must submit to circumstances.'

'We must indeed! I have already told you all my heart--my spirits are gone.You allowed the force of my objections, till your tenderness called up vague terrors, which have given us both unnecessary anguish.Spare me! do not oblige me to repeat the reasons I have already urged.'

'Spare you!' cried Valancourt, 'I am a wretch--a very wretch, that have felt only for myself!--I! who ought to have shewn the fortitude of a man, who ought to have supported you, I! have increased your sufferings by the conduct of a child! Forgive me, Emily! think of the distraction of my mind now that I am about to part with all that is dear to me--and forgive me! When you are gone, I shall recollect with bitter remorse what I have made you suffer, and shall wish in vain that I could see you, if only for a moment, that I might sooth your grief.'

Tears again interrupted his voice, and Emily wept with him.'I will shew myself more worthy of your love,' said Valancourt, at length; 'Iwill not prolong these moments.My Emily--my own Emily! never forget me! God knows when we shall meet again! I resign you to his care.--O God!--O God!--protect and bless her!'

He pressed her hand to his heart.Emily sunk almost lifeless on his bosom, and neither wept, nor spoke.Valancourt, now commanding his own distress, tried to comfort and re-assure her, but she appeared totally unaffected by what he said, and a sigh, which she uttered, now and then, was all that proved she had not fainted.

He supported her slowly towards the chateau, weeping and speaking to her; but she answered only in sighs, till, having reached the gate, that terminated the avenue, she seemed to have recovered her consciousness, and, looking round, perceived how near they were to the chateau.'We must part here,' said she, stopping, 'Why prolong these moments? Teach me the fortitude I have forgot.'

Valancourt struggled to assume a composed air.'Farewell, my love!'

said he, in a voice of solemn tenderness--'trust me we shall meet again--meet for each other--meet to part no more!' His voice faltered, but, recovering it, he proceeded in a firmer tone.'You know not what I shall suffer, till I hear from you; I shall omit no opportunity of conveying to you my letters, yet I tremble to think how few may occur.And trust me, love, for your dear sake, I will try to bear this absence with fortitude.O how little I have shewn to-night!'

'Farewell!' said Emily faintly.'When you are gone, I shall think of many things I would have said to you.' 'And I of many--many!' said Valancourt; 'I never left you yet, that I did not immediately remember some question, or some entreaty, or some circumstance, concerning my love, that I earnestly wished to mention, and feel wretched because I could not.O Emily! this countenance, on which Inow gaze--will, in a moment, be gone from my eyes, and not all the efforts of fancy will be able to recall it with exactness.O! what an infinite difference between this moment and the next! NOW, I am in your presence, can behold you! THEN, all will be a dreary blank--and I shall be a wanderer, exiled from my only home!'

Valancourt again pressed her to his heart, and held her there in silence, weeping.Tears once again calmed her oppressed mind.They again bade each other farewell, lingered a moment, and then parted.

Valancourt seemed to force himself from the spot; he passed hastily up the avenue, and Emily, as she moved slowly towards the chateau, heard his distant steps.she listened to the sounds, as they sunk fainter and fainter, till the melancholy stillness of night alone remained; and then hurried to her chamber, to seek repose, which, alas! was fled from her wretchedness.