CHAPTER XXII.
And, when the darkness comes, to glide in paths
That lead to graves, and in the silent vault."
Dryden.
It may be well supposed that the General, communicative as he was in character, as soon as he left London and its suburbs behind him, rejoiced to unburthen his mind upon the pleasing subject which engrossed it,—and which naturally continued the chief topic of discussion between father and daughter until they entered Glamorganshire, every object of which county affected Oriana with the pleasing but mournful recollections of the past.
The road through which they travelled lay not very far distant from the residence of Mrs. Boville, and as the last accounts received by the General from Mrs. De Brooke had been directed thence,—from the probability of his wife and Rosilia being prevailed upon to remain there during his absence, and as, at any rate, it would not lead him far from his direct route to the Bower, he determined to make a call there, to introduce Oriana to Mrs. Melbourne, with whom he was better acquainted than with her sister,—having, of course, no idea of what had happened during his absence.
