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(17) connection between them, but that he had not as yet mentioned it to her though ſhe every day expected it. "It ſhall not however (continued ſhe), be in the power of any of my friends to cauſe me marry any perſon but ſuch as I chuſe myſelf; neither ſhall all their united efforts conſtrain me to love you leſs than I do at preſent." Philander conjured her to abide by theſe reſolutions, and departed.

A very few days after, as Roſara was one evening ſitting alone in her roon, her father entered it, and having taken two or three turns, broke ſilence to the following purport:—"I had a conſiderable while ſince begun to ſuſpect, that there was more betwixt you and Philander than what I was well aware of, but of this I am now credibly informed by ſome of your friends, who have your intereſt much at heart; and who tell me, that to ſuch a length are matters now carried, that you and he are determined, as ſoon as poſſible, to be united in wedlock. This, however, I forbid, on pain of incurring my higheſt reſentment. How much do you think ſuch an union would degrade you? He is a perſon entirely beneath your ſtation, and conſequently unworthy of your ſmalleſt notice, when a matrimonial affair comes under conſideration! Besides, I hope you will remember that Superbo is at your ſervice; and, as he is a gentleman of ſtation,