speech, "it is not as you suppose. Mrs. De Brooke truly has undergone a great shock; she is happily with us, and Mrs. Boville is now endeavouring to console her, being even at this time in the greatest anguish on account of—" Mrs. Melbourne found herself at a loss to proceed, but gathering breath, she added, "the sudden disappearance of her daughter."
"Of my Rosilia!" exclaimed the distracted father; "where?—how long?—at what time?"
"She went in the afternoon to ramble amidst the grounds, and we have not seen her since. Every servant, male and female, in and out of the house, has been sent in various directions in search of her, but without success. We were fearful she might have fallen into a sheet of water beyond the shrubbery: it has been dragged, but to no purpose."
"My dear Mrs. Melbourne," added the General, "excuse the former bluntness of my words and actions; but, as you now represent the matter, I do not see but that this apparent evil admits of hope, knowing the turn of my daughter's mind: beguiled by her love for natural objects, taught by the Doctor, she has wandered on, heedless of the hours, and has doubtless lost her way. Will you have the goodness to lead me to my wife, and in the meanwhile prepare Oriana for seeing her mother without her sister, using what discretion you may think proper to quiet her fears and to console her for the disappointment?"
In ascending to meet Mrs. De Brooke, the General thought, "What an eventful journey has this been
