Rosilia requested the nurse to continue her employment outside, while the inside of the cottage was left solely in possession of herself and Rose, whom the better to accommodate, Rosilia seated herself upon a small stool in the centre of the floor, when the child in playfulness slipped from her head the combs which confined her hair, and instantly those silken tresses, falling to the ground, spread luxuriantly like a sable veil around her. Amused by the sight, the sportive child stood laughing, and again approaching twisted her fingers through the rich infoldings.
On a sudden the door opened, and ere Rosilia could arise, or perceive who entered, a voice exclaimed, "My child," Rosilia was not unacquainted with those accents; they penetrated her soul. She raised her head, uttered a faint sigh, and fell senseless at the feet of Douglas!
Every nerve agitated to excess by the strong pulsations of his heart, for an instant he stood bewildered, devouring with ardent eyes the object before him; in the next, he called aloud for assistance, he raised the fainting Rosilia, he knelt by her side, he supported her in his trembling arms. She continued motionless. His eyes darting rays of inexpressible anguish wandered over that countenance, though pale and inanimate, still beautiful and touching,—that countenance no time, no change, no event had power to erase from his soul!
A carriage drove to the door, the nurse of Rose flew to meet it, and a lady alights. Upon entering
