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52 unvarying complacency, depicted in the looks of his imagined rival.

Yielding to sentiments so painful to his peace, where was then that pleasant humour and lively eloquence, ever acting with such resistless efficacy to fascinate attention, even to bestow a secret delight on those who disdained openly to admire him, swayed either by envy or a just prejudice against his general character? A prey to every varying emotion and every passion, he was then tortured by the most imperious of any; his irritation seemed every moment increasing, till at length, unable any longer to control his feelings or continue a silent spectator of a scene so calculated to probe his soul, he arose, and with a hurried step glided behind the company, approached Sir Howard, and whispered some incoherent words in his ear: his cheeks were flushed, fire darted from his eyes, and with an air of suppressed passion he left the room. This conduct, so unexpected and extraordinary, naturally excited in Sir Howard much astonishment; motionless and speechless, he seemed petrified; but soon returning to the full command of his faculties, an art with which he was singularly endowed, he apologized to Rosilia for thus abruptly leaving her, and with an apparently unconcerned demeanour