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Rh known her to be in every way worthy of confidence, and as well-behaved a girl as any in the neighbourhood:—that when the lady came to see the child, she often wept over her; and was sometimes heard to say, she feared the dear innocent would become an orphan.

"And where does the lady live?" inquired Rosilia.

"About thirty miles off."

"Alas! and is there then a possibility that this lovely little creature may become parentless?" exclaimed Rosilia, while continuing to lavish her caresses upon the object of her sympathy.

Dr. Lovesworth felt sorry to terminate so engaging a scene, and would have gladly prolonged it had not his watch told him it was time to consign Rosilia to her parents, who might be then suffering uneasiness from her having exceeded the usual period of her absence. He therefore raised the child from her lap, and impressing a benign salute upon its glowing cheek, delivered it back to the arms of its nurse. Rosilia then left the cottage with many assurances of renewing her visit. The chief topic of her discourse was the inmates of the cottage until she arrived at the Bower; when the subject was renewed, and the parents of Rosilia felt happy that she had discovered so pleasing a source of amusement.

Seldom did she suffer a day to pass without visiting the interesting child. Sometimes the nurse brought her to the Bower, when the General and