Chapter 30

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌⁠Before he came, everything loved me, and I had more things to love than I could reckon by the hairs of my head. Now I feel I can love but one, and that one has deserted me.... Well, be it so,—let her perish, let her be anything but mine!—Melmoth.

Early the next morning Sir William Brandon was closeted for a long time with his niece, previous to his departure to the duties of his office. Anxious and