It was now, however, too late to retract.

I had been guilty of a solemn and deliberate concealment.

I was now in the path in which there was no turning back, and I must go forward.
The return of day's encouraging beams in some degree quieted my nocturnal terrors, and I went, at the appointed hour, to Ludloe's presence.

I found him with a much more cheerful aspect than I expected, and began to chide myself, in secret, for the folly of my late apprehensions.
After a little pause, he reminded me, that he was only one among many, engaged in a great and arduous design.

As each of us, continued he, is mortal, each of us must, in time, yield his post to another .-- Each of us is ambitious to provide himself a successor, to have his place filled by one selected and instructed by himself.