She could indeed have gone to him, and not have owned what she had seen or heard; but now her abhorrence of even the appearance of treachery or cunning was so great, that she could not bear to add the smallest grain of falsehood or deceit to the weight of her guilt, which was already almost insupportable: and should she tell him of her repentance, with a confession of her knowledge of his engagement with Caelia, it would (as has been before observed) appear both servile and insincere.
Nothing could now appear so altered as the whole face of this once happy family.Sempronius as much as possible shunned the sight of Chloe; for as she was the cause of all the confusion amongst them, he had almost an aversion to her.Though he was not of an implacable temper, yet, as the injury was intended to one he sincerely loved, he found it much harder to forgive it, than if it had even succeeded against himself; and as he still looked upon Chloe as the cause of melancholy in his dear Caelia, he could hardly have any patience with her.
No words can describe the various passions which were expressed in the sad countenance of Chloe, when first she met her friend.They were both afraid of speaking.Shame, and the fear of being (and with too good reason) suspected of insincerity, withheld Chloe; and an unwillingness to accuse or hurt her friend withheld the gentle Caelia.She sometimes indeed thought she saw repentance in Chloe's face, and wished for nothing more than to seal her pardon.But till it was asked, she was in doubt (from what had passed) whether such pardon and proffered reconciliation might not be rejected.She knew that her friend's passions were naturally stronger than hers; and she therefore trembled at the consequences of coming to an explanation.
But there was hardly a greater sufferer in this scene of confusion than the poor old Lady Amanda.She saw a sort of horror and wildness in the face of Chloe; and in Caelia's a settled melancholy, and such an unusual reserve in both towards each other, as well as to herself, as quite astonished her.
Sempronius came indeed to the house as often as usual; but in his countenance she could perceive a sort of anger and concern which perfectly frightened her.But as they did not speak to her, she could notbring herself to ask the cause of this woeful change, for fear of hearing something too bad to bear.
Caelia had absolutely refused granting to Sempronius leave to ask her aunt's consent, till she should come to some explanation with Chloe, which seemed every day farther off than ever.
The great perturbation of Chloe's mind threw her into a disorder not many degrees short of madness; and at last she was seized with a violent fever so as to keep her bed.She said she could not bear to look on Amanda; but begged Caelia to be with her as much as possible; which she did, in hopes of bringing herself to ease her mind, by speaking to her of what had given them all this torment.
Caelia watched with her night and day for three days, when the physician who attended her pronounced that there was no hope of her life.Caelia could not any longer bear to stay in the room, and went downstairs, expecting every moment to hear she was expired.
Chloe soon perceived by Caelia's abrupt leaving the room, and the looks of those who were left in it, that her fate was pronounced; which, instead of sinking her spirits, and making her dejected, gave a tranquillity to her mind; for she thought within herself, 'I shall now make my dear cousin happy, by removing out of her way an object that must embitter all her joy; and now likewise, as she is convinced I am on my death-bed, she will once more believe me capable of speaking truth; and will, in the manner I could wish, receive my sincere repentance.' Then sending for Caelia up to her bedside, she in a weak voice, with hardly strength for utterance, spoke in this manner: 'My dear Caelia, though you know me to be a worthless base wretch, yet do not think so hardly of me, as to imagine I would deceive you with my last breath.Believe me then when I tell you, that I sincerely repent of my treachery towards you; and as sincerely rejoice that it has in reality been the cause of your happiness with Sempronius.Tell him this; and then, perhaps, he will not hate my memory.' Here she fainted away, and they forced Caelia out of the room, thinking her breath was for ever flown.But in some time she came again to herself, and cried out, 'What! would not my dear Caelia say that she forgave me?Methinks I would not die, till I had obtained her pardon.
She is too good to refuse her friend this last request.' Her attendants then told her, that seeing her faint away, they had forced Caelia out of the room; and they begged her to try to compose herself, for they were sure that seeing her friend again, at this time, would only disturb her mind, and do her an injury.
Chloe, from the vent she had given her grief in speaking to Caelia, found herself something more easy and composed; and desiring the room to be made perfectly quiet, she fell into a gentle sleep, which lasted two hours; and when she awaked she found herself so much better, that those about her were convinced, from her composed manner of speaking, that she was now able to bear another interview.
They again called for Caelia, and told her of her cousin's amendment.She flew with all speed to her chamber; and the moment she entered, Chloe cried out, 'Can you forgive me, Caelia?' 'Yes, with the greatest joy and sincerity imaginable, my dearest Chloe,' answered Caelia, 'and never let it be again mentioned or remembered.'
The sudden recovery of Chloe was almost incredible; for in less than a week she was able to quit both her bed and room, and go into her aunt's chamber.The good old lady shed tears of joy, to see such a return of Chloe's health, and of cheerfulness in the family; and was perfectly contented, now she saw their melancholy removed, not to inquire into the late cause of it, for fear of renewing their trouble even one moment by the remembrance of it.
