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(21) of this had juſt reached Philander's dwelling by the time of his return. He was ſhocked at the relation, and was on the point of contriving ſome method of ſeeing Roſara (her father having previouſly found means to forbid him his houſe), in order to enquire if ſuch a thing was done with her concurrence. This determination was, however, ſuppreſſed, by reflecting that her father was a man of conſummate prudence, and who performed all his actions with the utmoſt deliberation, ſo that he naturally inferred this affair would be the reſult of her own coincidence. It was, indeed, a matter of the utmoſt difficulty to bring himſelf to think, that Roſara would ſo ſuddenly alter her reſolution; but when he reflected upon the effect of advice, paternal affection, the ſickleneſs of the ſex, the diſparity of his fortune when compared with Superbo's, he really imagined every thing was done with the conſent of all parties. Such reflections as theſe confirmed his opinion, and he finally reſolved not to ſee her again, as he naturally ſuppoſed ſuch an interview could not fail to add to his preſent load of grief, and, at the ſame time, give him an opportunity of upbraiding her with her breach of fidelity, a circumſtance he then did not chuſe to do.

The laſt rupture between Great Britain and France was then newly commenced; and Philander having had a previous