How, then, could she violate her word, or treat him with rudeness, who had always not only treated her with courtesy, but expressed an interest in her happiness which she had every reason to believe sincere?
Thus was the poor girl entangled with difficulties on every side without possessing any means of releasing herself from them.
In a few days after this she was sitting in the drawing-room when Woodward unexpectedly entered it, and saluted her with great apparent good feeling and politeness.

The surprise caused her to become as pale as death; she felt her very limbs relax with weakness, and her breath for a few moments taken away from her; she looked upon him with an expression of alarm and fear which she could not conceal, and it was with some difficulty that she was at length enabled to speak.
"You will excuse me, sir," she said, "for not rising; I am very nervous, and have not been at all well for the last week or upwards." "Indeed, Miss Goodwin, I am very sorry to hear this; I trust it is only a mere passing indisposition; I think the complaint is general, for my sister has also been ailing much the same way for the last few days.
Don't be alarmed, Miss Goodwin, it is nothing, and won't signify.

You should mingle more in society; you keep too much alone." "But I do not relish society; I never mingle in it that I don't feel exhausted and depressed." "That certainly makes a serious difference; in such a case, then, I imagine society would do you more harm than good.

I should not have intruded on you had not your mother requested me to come up and try to raise your spirits--a pleasure which I would gladly enjoy if I could." "I am much obliged to you, Mr.Woodward," she replied; "I hope a short time will remove this unusual depression, and I must only have a little patience." "Just so, Miss Goodwin; a little time, as you say, will restore you to yourself." Now all this was very courteous and kind of Mr.Woodward, and might have raised her spirits were it not for the eye.

From the moment he entered the apartment that dreaded instrument of his power was fixed upon her with a look so concentrated, piercing, and intense, that it gave a character of abstraction to all he said.