When he had sat long enough to make her believe he had read what she had desired, he rose up, and, joining her at the Window, began to talk of the Pleasantness of the Evening, instead of the Rigour of Statira.
Arabella coloured with Vexation at his extreme Indifference in a Matter which was of such prodigious Consequence, in her Opinion; but disdaining to put him in mind of his Rudeness, in quitting a Subject they had not thoroughly discussed, and which she had taken so much Pains to make him comprehend, she continued silent; and would not condescend to afford him an Answer to any thing he said.
Glanville, by her Silence and Frowns, was made sensible of his Fault; and, to repair it, began to talk of the inexorable Statira, though, indeed, he did not well know what to say.
Arabella, clearing up a little, did not disdain to answer him upon her favourite Topic: I knew, said she, you would be ready to blame this Princess equally for her Rigour and her Kindness; but it must be remembred that, what she did in Favour of Oroondates, was wholly owing to the Generosity of Artaxerxes.
Here she stopped, expecting Glanville to give his Opinion; who, strangely puzzled, replied at random, To be sure, Madam, he was a very generous Rival.
Rival! cried Arabella; Artaxerxes the Rival of Oroondates! Why certainly you have lost your Wits: He was Statira's Brother; and it was to his Mediation that Oroondates, or Orontes, owed his Happiness.
