signified her professions of eternal affection to himself!—he had held but that share in her heart another might equally have done, provided he had tendered her an offer of his hand!
Depressed in mind and enfeebled in constitution, the repose he had formerly derived from a calm conscience by degrees forsook him. In looking forward to the future, each fair prospect fading from his view presented but a sterile and desolated waste. When he reflected how little he might reasonably indulge in the persuasion of ever accomplishing an union with Oriana, every flattering image vanished; hope seemed to wander; all seemed as but a passing dream, which had arisen to mock him! The delusion attending on terrestrial joys bewildered his thoughts. Thus a species of inanity was engendered, which produced in him a perfect indifference to every object around him.
To such sad and mournful contemplations was often united the bitter sting of compunction, of humiliation, the loss of self-esteem, and which gave to his letters to Oriana that melancholy and moroseness of style of which she had so much complained. His flame was decaying nearly to extinction, and his correspondence thence became less frequent, until at last it ceased altogether; inwardly persuaded,—but how unjustly!—that the affection of Oriana was wholly withdrawn from him, and was transferred to Valpée—the more fortunate, prosperous, and happy Valpée.
Influenced by such ideas, the name of Oriana,
