cesses, with a freedom and undaunted air, which seemed to set decency at defiance. And thus it was that Mrs. Philimore had become acquainted with his real character, while, by his greater circumspection and care in the presence of the De Brookes, he had appeared to them in a light by no means exceptionable. Finding however it answered no determined end, and becoming completely tired of counterfeiting, rejoicing also in the hope, from the violent measures he meant to adopt, of shortly having Rosilia entirely within his power, united to the unsuspicious confidence with which he had been invariably received by the General and Mrs. De Brooke, and which he conceived, gave him, a certain access to Rosilia, not considering, under the influence of a lawless presumption, that her condition in life might keep him at a distance, and place her above his freedoms; but having no regard for female chastity in any rank of life whatever, when occasion offered, he was ever ready to betray himself, and taking advantage of the General's absence from home, he became very indifferent as to any longer wearing the mask.
It may suit Melliphant, thought he, with his leisurely and methodical plans and systems; for his part he would no more trifle with fortune, but make a daring enterprise; what had it hitherto availed, playing the hypocrite, and seeming what he was not, a canting fool?
Rosilia was alone, employed with her needle in the back drawing-room, when the voice of Sir Howard
