but whilst doing so, be begged permission to escort her home.
His manners were humble, his eye was downcast; thus he conducted her in silence, until she had nearly reached her home, when he murmured something of apology for having been betrayed in his morning's visit to have acted in a manner perhaps too familiar, but which, he assured her, had not arisen from disrespect, but from the intimacy and flattering unreserve, more than a common friend, with which he had been honoured by the family. Though but indistinctly articulated, such was the tenor of the speech Rosilia gathered, which pleased, whilst at the same time it piqued her, as seeming to convey a censure against herself for having acted with over severity.
Sir Howard had thought proper to make this vindication of himself, hoping that by appeasing her resentment, it might cause her to soften her account of his conduct to her mother, whom he knew to be particularly tenacious of her daughter's conduct, but whom, from the little knowledge she had of the vices of the world, he had easily beguiled into a complete persuasion of his honor and uprightness; but, above all, it was the wrath and indignation of the General he most dreaded, sensibly aware, in the warmth and impetuosity of his character, how justly and strongly such feelings might be vented against him.
With a look forcibly pleading forgiveness he left her, saying he would call again in the evening: the
