Page:Duty and Inclination 2.pdf/87

Rh and sparkled by her wit, Rosilia touched and penetrated the heart by the sweet serenity of her deportment. The one, as a brilliant coruscation playing in a summer sky, might enchant the fancy and ensure the suffrage of a moment; the other, as a lovely constellation, though less vivid, yet from its undeviating steadfastness never failed to leave upon the observer impressions more truly gratifying, solid, and lasting.

The subject more particularly engaging the mind of Sir Aubrey De Brooke, during his visit at Fairfield Lodge, regarded his son. He had greatly participated in his recent calamity, deriving its source from the base machinations of General Haughton, but from which, rising clear of every false aspersion, so fully acquitted, his character appearing in all its native worth and integrity, he had merited a better treatment at the hands of Government than to be put off so repeatedly by promises, whilst new favourites were preferred before him. These considerations at any former period might not have so much afflicted Sir Aubrey as at the present they were found to do, from the growing interest he took in his grand-daughters.

"Those girls," thought he, "in whatever class they move, whatever circles they frequent, cannot but command attention and become