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Rh the presence of one so unfeeling and senseless as Sir Howard then appeared to her. To prevent her escape, he audaciously sprang forward, and while in the act of closing the door, seized the trembling girl by the arm. Her courage and resolution, however, were immediately aroused; she resisted his grasp, and with a voice imperious in its accents, desired him instantly to release her.

Freed from his presence, her first suggestion was to send the servant to inform Sir Howard that Mrs. De Brooke was not at home, and that it was uncertain when she might return, supposing it would induce him to depart. Instead of departing, however, in order to draw her back again, he sent a message to her, stating that he felt himself very unwell, and was consequently deterred from going immediately, and that previous to which, having a few words to say to her, he begged of her to return.

Supposing it might be to offer some excuse for his conduct, and not wishing to give rise to suspicion in the servant, Rosilia, though reluctantly, was tempted to comply.

In the hope of disarming her resentment, and of exciting her compassion, he had artfully thrown himself upon a sofa, his head reclining upon his hand; when, upon again seeing her, scarcely uplifting himself, he said in the most plaintive voice, "I am very ill,—very ill indeed;" upon which, not receiving a reply, he half unclosed his eye-lids, and sinking his head backwards upon the couch, added in tones of