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42 the truth of them was naturally suggested to the mind of Rosilia, and the whole conduct of Melliphant, since her first acquaintance with him, passed in rapid review before her. Neither in his manners, looks, nor air, could she trace anything like what she supposed might have been the case, had he been influenced by attachment towards her. As a character, gifted with superior understanding and worth, she might esteem him, and expect a similiar return; but to find a lover in Melliphant, the sedate, sober Melliphant, she had never dreamt of; and which she sincerely hoped might never be, firmly impressed with the idea that her soul was not formed to assimilate with his in the closer links of affection.

With the punctuality due to Melliphant's hire of her services, the nurse never failed to make reports to him respecting the issue of every fresh conversation she had held with Rosilia; who, entirely unsuspicious of such a deep-laid stratagem, and little weighing the force or construction that might be attached to her words, delivered her sentiments with that freedom she thought best calculated to please the friendly nurse,—coinciding only, however, in the opinion she entertained of the general worth of Melliphant; and which remarks, though given with exaggeration by the nurse, if they did not tend to raise the hopes of Melliphant, certainly did not tend to lessen them.

"Holding so favourable a place in her good opinion," thought he, "it is but to advance myself a step higher;