poured into her soul the balm of consolation; and if less impassioned or warm in the effusions of love, conceiving it his duty to support her weaknesses, strengthen her judgment, and finally raise her contemplations to the primary Author of all that was most perfect and excellent, they were generally replete with exalted sentiment and luminous intelligence, which appeared to Oriana as springing from the purest affection, guided by the discretion and rationality of one who was to become her future partner; it never occurred to her that the once enthusiastic, ardent flame of Philimore was abating.
To promote the final re-establishment of his health, Philimore had absented himself from London with his father, and as their return was not immediately expected, Oriana was denied the happiness of seeing him, a regret prevailing over her mind, notwithstanding the consolations derived from the company of her sister, who in the communications made her, dwelt upon the agreeable change in her life, in the manner of passing time, since she had renewed acquaintance with Sir Howard Sinclair.
"Do you not recollect him," said she, "when at Valpée Lodge?"
"Can he be the same Sir Howard," inquired Oriana, after replying in the affirmative, "whose character I have heard so much traduced for his gallantries; who makes it his boast that he never yet found a woman to resist his seductions?"
Rosilia started and turned pale, not from any sug-
