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Rh at heart, his reconciliation was in appearance only. Beneath a ready and specious address, he concealed the jealous malignity of his feelings. He rung for his servant, ordered his curricle, seemed all hurry, all courtesy, and presently flinging himself into his seat and seizing the reins, drove swiftly from the door.

Sir Howard was one who never thought of marriage but as a traffic, a speculation not unworthy of making, if to improve his fortune; a sort of bondage to which he never could submit himself, unless his bride came to him with such a portion as he might deem an equivalent for the title he had to bestow, and for the personal advantages to which his self-conceit led him to attach vast importance. The infant flame with which Rosilia had inspired him, had not, from his short acquaintance with her, been capable of producing any change in his usual mode of reflecting; his admiration of her having been kept within the bounds of an equilibrium, excited by his governing and ruling principle of covetousness. But such was the perversity of his nature, that no sooner had his sentiments received opposition from Douglas, than a rivalship ensued, adapted infinitely to enhance in his imagination the fair object of it, connected with feelings of spleen and envy, as also the fervent wish