the superstitious fears entertained by the domestics of Mrs. Boville, she feared she had no chance of being extricated from her dismal situation through their means, since they would doubtless diligently keep themselves far beyond the sound of her cries.
Dreading the probability of having fallen into the hands of Melliphant, she would rather by far continue to support a captivity, dreary and dismal as it was, than be rescued by one for whom at that moment she felt the most unconquerable antipathy. "From the remains of the silent dead," thought she, "in this lone sepulchre, what have I to fear? how preferable to the company of him who could act towards me in so outrageous and brutal a manner!"
Resigning herself to the situation in which she was placed, her soul insensibly, by inward prayer, acquired strength. The Deity was not invoked in vain; His strong arm could yet sustain her, His powerful spirit could infuse her with courage to bear and surmount the dark and wicked purposes that might be planning against her.
Having thus secured his prize, beyond the possibility of discovery, we will take up the history of Melliphant, to account for the dreadful assault he had been thus led to commit against the then hapless and ill-fated Rosilia. He had announced among her acquaintance, and even to Sir Howard, that he was on the eve of flying the kingdom, as the only means to secure his safety and elude the vigilance of his creditors,—an artifice merely to conceal
