Page:Duty and Inclination. Volume 3.pdf/102

100 evening came, and brought, according to his promise Sir Howard.

The circumstance of the morning, by throwing restraint upon his behaviour, rendered him less presumptuous, and thence his company was more agreeable to Rosilia than she had of late found it; conducting himself as in the early stage of his acquaintance, perhaps with even more circumspection, he frequently relapsed into silence as though labouring under an oppression of mind, and supporting conversation only as an effort due to politeness. At last availing himself of the entrance of Mrs. Belmour and Melliphant, he retired to the adjoining apartment, where approaching the window which commanded a view of the country, he threw himself into a chair and became profoundly engrossed in thought.

After a short interval, Rosilia, anxious to show her perfect forgiveness of the past, and restore him from the melancholy mood into which beseemed sunk, gently drew near to the spot where he was seated; her work apparatus still lay in disorder upon the table, and whilst collecting them together, having entered unperceived by Sir Howard, he started upon beholding her.

It was one of those winter nights when the darkened clouds presage a tempest; the winds howled, and the lightning flashed at intervals, presenting a scene far from unpleasing to Rosilia, and harmonizing with her present feelings.