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252 Admitting the justice of these consolatory reasonings, Rosilia descended to the dining-room, where her kind friends had already assembled.

In the course of the evening, with the view of promoting the amusement of her guests, Mrs. Boville led them into an apartment they had not yet seen, and which she styled her favourite chamber, where when alone she usually spent the greater part of her time. It was neatly furnished, being wholly void of any article of gaudy or costly value, with the exception of an inlaid cabinet of ivory and ebony, and some portraits on the walls.

The first of these that Mrs. Boville pointed to the notice of Mrs. De Brooke, was that of her deceased husband, General Boville. The countenance bore a benignant and gracious expression. "Do you not trace some resemblance there," inquired Mrs. Boville, "to one to whom I have the honour of being stepmother?"

"Yes, truly," replied Mrs. De Brooke, "the resemblance to Dr. Lovesworth is striking."

"General Boville was his father," added she.

"Can he be the same Boville whose name, merits, and qualities have been so often repeated and extolled to me during my early years?" asked Mrs. De Brooke.

"The Boville who married my father's sister, but whose decease left him an early widower."

A crowd of ideas flashed upon the memory of Mrs. De Brooke, which received confirmation when, in