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70 subject and to relieve the emotions of Melliphant, she said, "I will read the book at some future time: not that I have the least cause to fear it would be productive of any injurious consequences should I read it even at the present, my mind, as you would assure me," added she playfully, "being so perfectly strong; and I willingly flatter myself into the belief that it is so."

Every persuasion of Melliphant was accompanied with such humility of expression and of mien, that though nothing was more foreign from the intention of Rosilia than to throw any appearance of consent upon his attachment, yet wilfully to disoblige and distress him she could not, without in some degree sharing in the same feeling.

Conversing upon other topics they pursued their walk until Rosilia reached home; when Melliphant, inwardly delighted that he had partly avowed his sentiments without having apparently forfeited her confidence, respectfully bowed and left her.

Obliged as he felt himself to desist from any longer pressing Werter upon her attention, as soon as he entered his chamber he took it from his pocket and replaced it by the "Man of Feeling". Surely, thought he, the most fastidious critic cannot object to this! The utmost Platonic nicety could find nothing in it to reprehend! Why then, it may be asked, was he desirous for her to read it, his object being to awaken images to her fancy such as might imperceptibly sully the native purity of her heart?