I ascribed her absence to some casual indisposition, and ventured to inquire into the state of her health.

My companion said she was well, but that she had left the city for a month or two, finding the heat of summer inconvenient where she was.

This was no unplausible reason for retirement.

A candid mind would have acquiesced in this representation, and found in it nothing inconsistent with a supposition respecting the cause of appearances favourable to her character; but otherwise was I affected.

The uneasiness which had flown for a moment returned, and I sunk into gloomy silence.
From this I was roused by my patron, who requested me to deliver a billet, which he put into my hand, at the counting-house of Mr.
Thetford, and to bring him an answer.