&c.

He withdrew his eyes, as if conscious that even to have looked on this important parcel might engender some suspicion of his purpose, or intimate the deep interest which he took in the contents of the missive which was so slightly treated by his friend Mrs.Pott.

At this moment the door of the shop opened, and Lady Penelope Penfeather entered, with her eternal _pendante_, the little Miss Digges.
"Have you seen Mr.Mowbray ?--Has Mr.Mowbray of St.Ronan's been down this morning ?--Do you know any thing of Mr.Mowbray, Mrs.Pott ?" were questions which the lettered lady eagerly huddled on the back of each other, scarcely giving time to the lady of letters to return a decided negative to all and each of them.
"Mr.Mowbray was not about--was not coming there this morning--his servant had just called for letters and papers, and announced as much." "Good Heaven! how unfortunate!" said Lady Penelope, with a deep sigh, and sinking down on one of the little sofas in an attitude of shocking desolation, which called the instant attention of Mr.Pott and his good woman, the first uncorking a small phial of salts, for he was a pharmacopolist as well as vender of literature and transmitter of letters, and the other hastening for a glass of water.

A strong temptation thrilled from Lord Etherington's eyes to his finger-ends.

Two steps might have brought him within arm's-length of the unwatched packet, on the contents of which, in all probability, rested the hope and claims of his rival in honour and fortune; and, in the general confusion, was it impossible to possess himself of it unobserved?
But no--no--no--the attempt was too dreadfully dangerous to be risked; and, passing from one extreme to another, he felt as if he was incurring suspicion by suffering Lady Penelope to play off her airs of affected distress and anxiety, without seeming to take that interest in them which her rank at least might be supposed to demand.