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58. Exhilarated by her good fare and generous wine, he forgot the hour, and in the bliss he indulged, would have launched into the greatest and wildest rhapsodies, had not Mrs. Belmour been the first, without ceremony, to warn him that it was time to retire. She had given him credit as a man of eminent taste in his selection of Rosilia; and, as she anticipated in the event of his marriage, to find her a very desirable neighbour, she further resolved to take an active part in forwarding the measure. Of an intriguing spirit also, match-making was an occupation to give her pleasure.

But not to go into a detail of all the plans she adopted, suffice it to say that Mrs. Belmour was incessantly contriving meetings and opportunities for interviews between Melliphant and Rosilia; and, by many kindnesses shown on her part, continued to increase in the regard of Mrs. De Brooke; who, on account of her very circumscribed acquaintance, as also fondness for home, could not possibly hear of the many reports whispered to her discredit.

One or two evenings every week were regularly appropriated to meeting at each other's respective residences, Melliphant being always of the party, and not unfrequently Sir Howard,—who, since the evening of the play, and late observations resulting from Meliphant's advice, not finding that his assiduities to the widow had produced even the most distant manifestation of jealousy on the part of Rosilia, but that, on the contrary, her calm serenity of