Page:Duty and Inclination. Volume 3.pdf/252

250 about. A wish to shun him, to avoid hearing the sound of his voice, supposing he would certainly accost her, caused her to avert from him her glance, and to slacken still more her pace; when, as if aware of her design, without taking apparent notice of her, he whistled to a small favourite dog of Mrs. Melbourne's that had been skipping before her, and attempted to allure the animal towards him, which answering to his call leaped instantly upon him.

Confused, perplexed, Rosilia conceived he was awaiting her approach, and that those accents she had hoped never more to hear would again meet her ear. He had stopped, however, and when she looked again he had disappeared behind an abrupt winding in the walk.

Turning immediately on the side leading to the mansion, in the fear of again seeing him, Rosilia quickened her steps, and reached the house shortly after the ladies accompanying her mother.

Perhaps no circumstance could have happened at that moment more unpropitious to Rosilia than the sight of Melliphant. He had flitted before her, like a dark phantom, disturbing her imagination, chasing from her bosom hopes inspired by the sweet and flattering expectation of a happier destiny than had hitherto been her lot. Alas! her evil genius hovering near, diffused a sombre hue over those scenes which had before breathed upon her sense so full of light, beauty, and loveliness!

As soon as Mrs. De Brooke had withdrawn to the