Page:Affecting history of an inn-keeper in Normandy.pdf/20

(20) interrupting her, and quite in a rage), have you gleaned up all this romantic ſtuff? Not one word, I ſay, more of that imaginary happineſs you talk of: it is wealth alone that conſtitutes what truly deſerves the name of happineſs; and, when that is a wanting, I would not give a pin for what you call reciprocal affection: Superbo's fortune, together with your own, will place you in an independent ſtation, and therein conſiſts what in reality is happineſs! I am therefore determined to have you united to him with all poſſible diſpatch; ſo not one word more in oppoſition to the mandates of your father!" So ſaying, he went out of the room in a paſſion, leaving the amiable Roſara in a ſtate of the utmoſt perplexity.

She would have at that time given the world to have ſeen Philander; but as he happened, in conſequence of ſome material buſineſs, to be from home, that was impoſſible; beſides, it was intirely out of her power to ſend any perſon in the family to inform him of what had paſſed, provided he had been at home; ſo ſtrictly were her actions then obſerved.

In the mean time, ſo firmly did her father adhere to what he told her, that he diſpatched a meſſenger, who brought Superbo and a notary, who drew up in form the marriage-contract, without ever ſo much as conſulting the diſconſolate Roſara. The news