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Rh demeanour existed unchanged, could only reluctantly infer that she remained invulnerable to his assaults.

But daring and intrepid as we have described him, it was not likely he would tamely submit to defeat. Governed by pride and vanity, such principles were not to be mortified with impunity. Revenge for slighted love! the bitter workings of revenge succeeded! and he resolved that nothing should hinder him from his purpose of effecting, if not the loss of virtue and innocence in Rosilia, the destruction of her peace for ever! He could not be any longer deceived as to the ascendancy obtained by the more fortunate Melliphant, whose conduct he had deeply scrutinised since the night of the marked preference shown him, in receiving the flowers which he had been himself the first to solicit; and he was convinced that, under an appearance of feigned indifference on the part of Melliphant, the strongest passion was concealed.

Could it be true, was it possible, that he, whom he had hitherto imagined to be acting in concert with himself, was, on his own account, aspiring to the affections of Rosilia,—he, whose affairs were so deeply involved, whose establishment was sinking, whose professional labours brought him so inadequate a supply? on the verge of ruin, could he, at such a crisis, entertain thoughts of marriage—of proposing himself for the partner of Rosilia? And how, or in what manner, had he planned his operations for the purpose of effecting such views?