Page:Rob Roy, the celebrated Highland freebooter, or, Memoirs of the Osbaldistone family (2).pdf/7

 instantly left the room. Frank, being left alone with Rashleigh, signified to him the unpleasant nature of his situation, in living with an uncle who believed him guilty of so disgraceful a crime, and said that he was determined to leave Osbaldistone Hall immediately. Rashleigh approved of his resolution, and said, that from Frank's attainments in literature, he might soon make a figure in the world; but his own case was still more deplorable, for his father had resolved that he should follow the mercantile profession. After some conversation on these subjects, Frank requested Rashleigh to give him some information; but it was with evident reluctance that he complied. He told Frank, that he had been formerly more intimate with Miss Vernon; but had thought it prudent to withdraw as much as possible from the company of a susceptible girl, whose heart must be either given to the cloister, or to a betrothed husband; that, by a family contract, she was destined to marry one of Sir Hildebrand's sons, and that Thorncliffe had been pitched upon by his father as her partner; but that, if he, Rashleigh, acquired wealth in the mercantile profession, he would marry her himself.

Frank, being strongly attached to Miss Vernon, was much mortified to find that she was the destined wife of another, andaud [sic], after reproaching himself for becoming the dupe of her artifices, and blaming her for not informing him of the situation in which she stood with the Osbaldistone family, came down to dinner in a very bad humour. At table, Miss Vernon, as usual, began to play of her raillery upon Frank; but he returned it with such acrimony, that she was offended, and, accusing him of impoliteness to a female who wished to be on good terms with him, she soon after left the room. Frank began to regret the shameful manner in which he had behaved to Miss Vernon, and, in order to stifle his reflections, drank till he became so intoxicated, that he quarrelled with his cousins, and struck Rashleigh, who, however, did not think it worth while to resent the outrage. Thorncliffe challenged Frank to decide their quarrel with the sword; but, after exchanging one or two thrusts, the combatants were separated, and Frank was carried off and locked in his apartment, from which he in vain attempted to break out. In the morning his passion had abated, and, sensible of the impropriety of his conduct, he made an apology to Rashleigh, which was accepted in a very gracious manner. This, disagreeable business being settled amicably, Frank next thought of procuring an explanation with Miss Vernon, who anticipated his wish, by requesting his attendance in the library to expound an obscure passage in Dante which she had met with. On reaching the library, Miss Vernon began to rally Frank most unmercifully upon the exhibition he had made at table the night before, and, in a strain of irony, complimented him for the proofs of courage he had dis-