Your grief, although, I trust causeless, does you infinite honor." "Upon my soul she is rather pretty," said the doctor to himself here.
"Well, sir! as I have the most perfect confidence in you, from all I have heard of you, I trust you will not think me abrupt in saying that any longer delay here is dangerous." "Dangerous! Is he in so critical a state as that then ?" "Critical a state, sir! Why what do you mean ?" "I mean, ma'am, do you think, then, it must be done to-day ?" "Of course I do, sir, and I shall never leave the spot without your assuring me of it." "Oh! in that case make your mind easy.

I have the instruments in the chaise." "The instruments in the chaise! Really, sir, if you are not jesting--I trust you don't think this is a fitting time for such--I entreat of you to speak more plainly and intelligibly." "Jesting, ma'am! I'm incapable of jesting at such a moment." "Ma'am! ma'am! I see one of the rangers, ma'am, at a distance; so don't lose a moment, but get into the chaise at once." "Well, sir, let us away; for I have now gone too far to retract." "Help my mistress into the chaise, sir.

Lord! what a man it is." A moment more saw the poor doctor seated beside the young lady, while the postillions plied whip and spur with their best energy; and the road flew beneath them.

Meanwhile the delay caused by this short dialogue, enabled Mrs.Fitz.'s slower conveyance to come up with the pursuit, and her chaise had just turned the angle of the road as she caught a glimpse of a muslin dress stepping into the carriage with her husband.
There are no words capable of conveying the faintest idea of the feelings that agitated Mrs.Fitz.at this moment.

The fullest confirmation to her worst fears was before her eyes--just at the very instant when a doubt was beginning to cross over her mind that it might have been merely a hoax that was practised on her, and that the worthy Doctor was innocent and blameless.