the failure of Sir Howard to his own advantage. Difficult, indeed, and hazardous would be the task! but with such a prize in view, what a reward for perseverance! "What," thought he, "though Sir Howard is favoured by the parents, he is far from being so by the daughter, who conducts herself with such timid caution and reserve towards him, while her manners are free, easy, candid, and agreeable towards me, although but recently known to her."
Thus even more fascinated by her innocent confidence than her beauty, he resolved to keep over himself the strictest guard. The loss of her good opinion would ruin all. He must carefully avoid falling into the error of Sir Howard, or betraying the slightest mark of passion; he must bury his sentiments in the deepest folds of his heart. How delicate, how refined, he well knew must be the conduct of him who sought the affection of Rosilia.
But how acquire opportunities for the accomplishment of his wish? It was not by an occasional call, he could advance his interests; a thousand obstacles seemed to interpose themselves against him. Rosilia was never to be seen but in the presence of one or both of her parents, and he had no just pretensions by which he might offer himself a candidate for her hand: and not until a more confidential intimacy had arisen, by insinuating himself imperceptibly, could he allow himself to repose upon hopes, the bare thought of which filled his heart with tumults unutterable.
