you have partly declared it: your whole proceedings show it. I purposely evaded speaking to you before; I wished to observe your manners, particularly in moments when you might be the least suspicious of my design: the scrutiny has ended in recommending you more strongly to my esteem. I also wished, as a silent spectator, to witness my child's behaviour towards you, whence I might be enabled to discover her sentiments.'
"At that moment I was breathless with expectation, my temples throbbed, a few words more were to decide my fate,—the plans I was to adopt for the future. He proceeded in a low voice, it was nearly inarticulate,—Good Heavens! had I heard aright?—'Angelina is engaged to another.' A dizziness seized my brain; he perceived it, and was hastening to call for assistance, but I checked him.
"'My good friend' he cried, 'you are overcome with alarm; attend to the conclusion of my story, and you will find that your fears are groundless. My dear daughter, with whom it is usual to think and feel as I do, has imbibed for you a great partiality. Nay, wherefore that distinistful smile? Her warm heart beats with a fervour, with sentiments much more powerful than a cold approbation merely given as due to your merits.'
