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88 gone by, and it was now too late, being still doomed to appear before him under false and unfriendly colours. The flattering reception given by his father to his daughters, however, was no small alleviation.

The dry reserve of Mr. Arden's manners towards him was also tolerated, from the unfeigned approbation he had expressed as to the musical talents of Oriana; and from the knowledge that the request made to him by his sister, to leave his daughter with them for a few weeks, came from his own particular desire. A great lover of music, Mr. Arden enjoyed the idea of profiting by Oriana's accomplishment in that respect—a consideration only that could have influenced him, in detaining under his roof the daughter of De Brooke.

The General, accordingly, was about returning alone to the Villa, when a letter to his sister from Lady De Brooke informed her, "That Sir Aubrey had but ill borne his little journey to town, and was, at the moment of her writing, suffering extreme pain." Calculated as was this account to throw the party assembled at Fairfield Lodge into much alarm, Mrs. Arden thought proper to defer the company of Oriana till another occasion, in order that, should Sir Aubrey still betray unfavourable