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16 those feelings of restraint that often so much encumber those who have not experienced such associations. To the voluptuary or refined sensualist Oriana, fortunately for herself, having within her the germ of coquetry, was far from interesting,—appearing as a plant whose leaves were too expanded, conveying not that charm, as the unblown bud, as was imaged in Rosilia, upon which imagination might stray exhaustless, in picturing to itself its sweet unfoldings, its fragrance opening imperceptibly, as by successive developments, inhaled by none—save him who knew to estimate its value, and had dearly won it.

Nevertheless, no woman was more calculated to charm and fascinate the amiable Valpée than Oriana. Secretly flattered by the recollections of the past, or desirous of retaining his former favourable opinion of her, or perhaps from a wish merely to please, though her affections were engaged to another; she doubtless considered it no error to esteem Frederic Valpée, from whichever motive she was influenced, and succeeded in winning those attentions from him, which a more retired fair might have found some difficulty in accomplishing. It was reserved, therefore, for Oriana, who, as her animation increased, more than had been of late customary in the absence of Philimore, to draw, as it were, Valpée from himself, from the usual concentration of his feelings, to cause him to discover, by insensible degrees, those shining attainments by which he was endowed equally by