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112 "My dear Oriana," said Rosilia, "your apprehensions are groundless; how is it in the power of either Sir Howard or his friend to injure me?"

"Ah! Rosilia! you are so unsuspicious, you know so little of the wickedness of the world and its deceptive arts; but at any rate receive the affectionate advice of a sister in this matter, and never go with either of them to any public place; never see them alone, should they ever happen to call when our parents are not at home. You change colour,—you can scarcely credit what I say to you; but trust me those men are seeking an opportunity to undermine your happiness; avoid them, dearest Rosilia, as you would a pestilence!"

"You carry your fears to an undue extreme," replied Rosilia; "never have either of them received from me the most distant mark of encouragement; and, believe me, no power on earth could prevail upon me to become the wife of either."

"Of that I am assured," rejoined Oriana, "and of which, doubtless, they are, likewise, assured; and there rests the danger,—causing the greater suspicion to attach to them. Why does Sir Howard live so near, and yet conceal his residence? What mystery does it not involve?"

Rosilia shuddered at the insinuations her sister's reasonings thus conveyed, and resolved to act in accordance with her advice; to shun their presence as much as possible, and when she could not avoid it, to be distant and reserved in her manners to each.