The confusion of Imogen
did not allow her to animadvert upon his freedoms. She had the utmost
confidence in the person whose form he wore, and the guileless
simplicity of pastoral life is accustomed to permit many undesigning
liberties, and is slow to take the alarm, or to suspect a sinister
purpose.
Roderic, anxious and timid respecting the success of his adventure, was
backward to enter into conversation. Imogen, on the other hand, charmed
with so unexpected an appearance, and presaging from it the most auspicious
consequences, full of her situation and sufferings, and having a thousand
things that pressed at once to be told, was eager and impatient to
communicate them to her faithful shepherd. She was also desirous of
learning by what undiscoverable means, by what happy fortune, he had been
conducted to this impervious retreat, and at so critical a juncture.
"Edwin,--my gallant Edwin,--how came you hither?--Sure it was some
propitious power,--some unseen angel,--that conducted you.--Oh, my
friend,--I have been miserable,--perplexed--tortured--but it is now
no more--I will not think of it--Thanks to the immortal Gods, I have no
occasion--no room--but for gratitude.--Edwin--what have you done--and
how did you escape the tempest?--Was it not a fearful storm?--But I
ask you a thousand questions--and you do not answer me.
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