The suddenness of his appearance quite overcame her, breathless as she was before from haste and fear; and finding that to support herself was impossible, she staggered towards a tree which grew on the edge of the path, but would have fallen if Godolphin had not caught her in his arms.
He did this merely from the impulse of his natural gallantry and good nature. What were his transports, when he found that the fugitive whom he had undesignedly alarmed by asking a direction to St. Alpin, was his adored Emmeline; and that the lovely object whose idea, since their first meeting, had never a moment been absent from it, he now pressed to his throbbing heart? Instantly terrified, however, to find her speechless and almost insensible, he ordered the servant who followed him to run back for some water; and seating her gently on the ground, he threw himself down by her and supported her; while Madelon, wringing her hands called on her aimable, her belle maitresse; and was too much frightened to give her any assistance.
Before the man returned with the water, her recollection was restored, and she said, faintly—'Mr. Godolphin! Is it possible?'
'Loveliest Miss Mowbray, how thoughtlessly have I alarmed you!—Can you forgive me?'
'Ah!' cried she, disengaging herself from his support—'how came you here, and from whence?'
Godolphin, without considering, and almost without knowing what he said, replied—'I come from Lord Delamere.'
'From Lord Delamere!' exclaimed she, in amazement. 'Is he not in London then?—is he not married?'
'No; I overtook him at Besançon; where he lies ill—very ill!'
'Ill!' repeated Emmeline.—'Ill, and at Besançon!—merciful heaven!'
She now again relapsed almost into insensibility: for at the mention of Godolphin's having overtaken him, and having left him ill, a thousand terrific and frightful images crouded into her mind; but the predominant idea was, that it was on her account they had met, and that Delamere's illness was a wound in consequence of that meeting.