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Rh as possible, and without in the least appearing to notice the confusion at times manifesting itself in her young auditor, she proceeded to remove the veil which had hitherto, she conceived, blinded her judgment as to the defects in the character of Douglas, who, from the various reports she had gathered, she concluded to be one of the most finished libertines of the day. She drew a little picture of the general manner in which he spent his time in London, lamenting that one so favoured by nature was so intemperate and improvident. She spoke of the patrimony left him by his father, the late Lord Deloraine, which he had wantonly squandered by excess and extravagant living; and ended her discourse by saying, "Great, great indeed will be my compassion for the woman who may be so indiscreet as to connect her fate with his; she will have nothing to look forward to but a long, long perspective of wretchedness."

Sir Charles and his son then appearing. Lady Valpée proposed adjourning to the music room. She had cast a look of tender interest at Rosilia, whose countenance had become entirely pallid during her remarks. Various emotions struggled in her bosom, but upon collecting her scattered faculties, sentiments of such pure intelligence