"Dr. Lovesworth, I suppose you mean," said Sir Howard.
"The same; but we must yet endeavour to elude him. Sir Howard, may I ask of you to play the same part again to-morrow? Make any excuse, invent what you will, to engage Mrs. De Brooke below, whilst I make use of my time with her daughter above!"
This arrangement being formed, they betook themselves to their respective homes.
Melliphant was aware that the next day would be a very busy one with the General, it being the last of his stay in town, and necessarily requiring his absence from home. An occasion certainly might offer for his seeing Rosilia alone, if but for a few minutes; and those minutes he determined should not be lost to him.
After a night of extreme irritation, as soon as Melliphant had made a hasty breakfast, he hastened from his home to seek Sir Howard, whose assistance he found to be absolutely essential. Sir Howard was dressing, but the business of the toilet at length over, habited in an elegant morning suit, he surveyed himself in a full-length mirror, alternately looking at himself and Melliphant.
Though vain of his appearance, his form wanted height; Melliphant, if less handsome than Sir Howard, was in his person nicely proportioned; and though in general negligent of his attire, he had then, notwithstanding the extreme state of agitation under
