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276 "I have already spoken to you of Douglas," said the General to Oriana on the way to Mrs. Boville's, "the old suitor of your sister; for whom, notwithstanding his rejection, I could never divest myself of the idea she has ever since retained a penchant, although constantly endeavouring to surmount it. He has returned home a most finished gentleman,—an honour to any court, where his merits would shine in their proper lustre. I should heartily rejoice did he propose a second time for your sister; for all I can say falls short of the praise you will hear of him from Mrs. Melbourne; even our good Lovesworth has caught the infection, for from the time he made acquaintance with Douglas he could talk of nothing else; and let me tell you, Lovesworth is no superficial observer. I related to him the cause of Rosilia's formerly declining his addresses, to which he made answer, it was what might have been expected on her part; admitting that she had authentic reason to accuse him of irregularities of conduct, an ample motive on her side to preclude any congenial intercourse. 'General,' added he, 'his intrinsic worth lay hidden under a heap of embers, to burst out with an increased, vivid, and lasting splendour. That a partiality still exists in each for the other is very obvious, notwithstanding their mutual efforts to conceal it. And I never saw two minds calculated to assimilate in conjugal harmony and unison more completely than that of my dear Rosilia and the accomplished Douglas.' I must