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Rh thrilled upon her every nerve, and the apparently cordial farewell of the latter as he drove down the avenue dissipated all her fears.

Finding her thus recovered, Lady Valpée left her to rejoin her guests, but found they had all dispersed with the solitary exception of Douglas, who remained impatiently awaiting the appearance of Rosilia. Lady Valpée informed him in a tone of mingled raillery and anger of the alarm he had spread among the ladies, and also of the sudden illness of Rosilia. During the recital his colour changed from white to red every second: was it for him or for Sir Howard that she had been thus affected? A confused hope dazzled him for an instant, but it was as suddenly checked by the recollection of the indifference which had marked her manners, and reception of him, upon his first entering that morning. He wished extremely to converse with her, if but for a few moments; but not venturing to request it, after a short interval of general conversation he thought proper to retire. Rosilia was still at the open window, but the instant he came near it she drew back, whilst crimson blushes spoke her distress. Too much a man of the world not to understand the meaning of this silent eloquence, the most rapturous sensations took possession of him; forgetting the