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Rh It remains only for us now to say, that time in its progress found Oriana again adorned with all her native vivacity; and Valpée, having returned home from his tour abroad, was often led to reflect upon the possibility of her entertaining a second attachment: in short, as we have elsewhere remarked, no woman was more adapted to draw him from the natural reserve of his character than Oriana.

The memory of the past, connected with the night of the fête champêtre in honour of his coming of age, she being the fair partner he had selected upon that occasion to open the ball, often returned with a pleasing charm upon his memory. And as Oriana on her part had ever felt a strong predilection for the amiable Valpée, she felt assured that had she never seen Philimore, and had never been withdrawn from the neighbourhood she then inhabited, it would have been undoubtedly Valpée to whom her first affections would have been engaged.

The respective families on either side much desiring the union, there is little doubt that in due course of time it took place.