The noise he made in brushing through the underwood with his gun, and rustling among the fading leaves, alarmed her.
He stepped over the timber, and seating himself by her, seized her hands.
'Oh! my charming cousin,' cried he, 'I think myself one of the most fortunate fellows on earth, thus to meet you.'
Emmeline would have risen.
'Oh! no,' continued he, 'indeed you do not go, 'till we have had a little conversation.'
'I cannot stay, indeed Sir,' said Emmeline—. 'I must immediately go home.'
'By no means; I cannot part with you.—Come, come, sit down and hear what I have to say.'
It was to no purpose to resist. The impetuous vehemence of Delamere was too much for the timid civility of Emmeline; and not believing that any thing more than common conversation or a few unmeaning compliments would pass, she sat down with as much composure as she could command.
But Delamere, who was really captivated at the first, and who now thought her more beautiful than he had done in their former interviews, hesitated not to pour forth the most extravagant professions of admiration, in a style so unequivocal, that Emmeline, believing he meant to insult her, burst into a passion of tears, and besought him, in a tremulous and broken voice, not to be so cruel as to affront her, but to suffer her to return home.