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"You will repay me entirely if you do not discompose yourself,

but get well as fast as you can; and since you appear in such

good spirits, I may speak to you on one subject, may I not?"

I trembled. One subject! What could it be? Could he allude to an

object on whom I dared not even think?

"Compose yourself," said Clerval, who observed my change of

colour, "I will not mention it if it agitates you; but your

father and cousin would be very happy if they received a letter

from you in your own handwriting. They hardly know how ill you

have been and are uneasy at your long silence."

"Is that all, my dear Henry? How could you suppose that my first

thought would not fly towards those dear, dear friends whom I

love and who are so deserving of my love?"

"If this is your present temper, my friend, you will perhaps be

glad to see a letter that has been lying here some days for you;

it is from your cousin, I believe."

Chapter 6