speed, Sir Howard appears; reining in his horses, he stops, upon reaching and recognizing the General. He begs a thousand pardons; he has been detained on account of a friend, upon whom he had been appointed to call, in the previous promise given of his joining the party, but who, from some unexpected occurrence, has been prevented fulfilling his engagement. Giving the reins to his servant, Sir Howard leaped with agility from his seat, and, in the next instant, the General introduced Mrs. De Brooke and Rosilia.
A veil partly concealed the features of Rosilia; nevertheless, he fixed upon her a look of intense scrutiny, and, in a sort of under voice, he said something of having before had that honour; when the scene between Captain Douglas and himself, at Sir Charles's Lodge, rushed rapidly over her memory. Rosilia had never known to what degree Sir Howard had been implicated in that affair; some confused ideas, however, crossing her recollection, as to the cause of her having fainted, she sought to shun his gaze,—when casting his eyes downwards, and after an interval of silence, equally expressive on the part of either, turning himself suddenly about, he proposed to the General immediately following the party, to which the General consenting, Sir Howard stepped forward to lend
