annette obeyed, and emily returned to the agonizing considerations, that had assailed her before, but which she, at length, endeavoured to sooth by a new remark.if the stranger was valancourt, it was certain he had come alone, and it appeared, therefore, that he had been able to quit the gardens, without assistance; a circumstance which did not seem probable, had his wound been dangerous.with this consideration, she endeavoured to support herself, during the enquiries, that were making by her servants in the neighbourhood; but day after day came, and still closed in uncertainty, concerning this affair: and emily, suffering in silence, at length, drooped, and sunk under the pressure of her anxiety.she was attacked by a slow fever, and when she yielded to the persuasion of annette to send for medical advice, the physicians prescribed little beside air, gentle exercise and amusement: but how was this last to be obtained? she, however, endeavoured to abstract her thoughts from the subject of her anxiety, by employing them in promoting that happiness in others, which she had lost herself; and, when the evening was fine, she usually took an airing, including in her ride the cottages of some of her tenants, on whose condition she made such observations, as often enabled her, unasked, to fulfil their wishes.
her indisposition and the business she engaged in, relative to this estate, had already protracted her stay at tholouse, beyond the period she had formerly fixed for her departure to la vallee; and now she was unwilling to leave the only place, where it seemed possible, that certainty could be obtained on the subject of her distress.but the time was come, when her presence was necessary at la vallee, a letter from the lady blanche now informing her, that the count and herself, being then at the chateau of the baron st.foix, purposed to visit her at la vallee, on their way home, as soon as they should be informed of her arrival there.blanche added, that they made this visit, with the hope of inducing her to return with them to chateau-le-blanc.