Page:Duty and Inclination. Volume 3.pdf/256

254 to use the appellation of niece. "How rejoiced I am" continued she, "to find in Mrs. De Brooke one so closely connected with my respected and ever-to-be-regretted Boville; and that it is now, though late, permitted me to claim relationship with her and her lovely daughters; the eldest of whom it is still reserved for me to see,—the youngest," rising from her seat as she spoke, "having already my friendship,—sweet, charming, and amiable as she is,—the grand-niece of my Boville!"

Rosilia flew towards her, and cordially returned the warm salutation she received,

"My excellent husband the General," said his widow, addressing Mrs. De Brooke, "entertained for your father a species of veneration as the earliest friend of his youth; and that the regard was mutual, the interchange of marriage in their respective families abundantly proves; it being also, it appears, a younger sister of your father's who was the first wife of Boville, of which union our esteemed Lovesworth is the issue."

This interesting explanation of family connections given by Mrs. Boville occasioned an éclaircissement exceedingly gratifying to Mrs. De Brooke and Rosilia. Doctor Lovesworth, for whom they had mutually, with the whole of their family, felt so great a partiality, was found to be the cousin-german of Mrs. De Brooke.

"With what happiness," exclaimed she, "shall I advance to take the Doctor by the hand when next I