Mrs. Belmour had given vent to her excellent spirits, which, harmonizing with a natural vivacity ever retained by Mrs. De Brooke, hours had stolen away, and it was later than they could have supposed w'hen they rose to take leave.
Previous to leaving the apartment, Rosilia had been attracted by a glitter, caused, as she imagined, by a refraction of light falling upon a mineral in the cabinet; but upon drawing near, she perceived it was a ray reflected merely from a small piece of common glass; aware that Melliphant possessed a knowledge of botany, she concluded it was placed there for the preservation of some choice botanical plant; upon a closer examination, however, she found it covered only a few dried and withered leaves and stalks of roses and myrtle, which in their present state naturally seemed to her as useless and of no value. She paused, and was about asking for a solution of what appeared to her so perfectly enigmatical, when she was called away by her mother, who was awaiting to depart.
Having taken leave of Mrs. Belmour as she stepped into the next door, her own house, to the great annoyance of Melliphant, Sir Howard passed, who in recognizing them, turned instantly about, and who in accosting Mrs. De Brooke, offered her the support of his arm. Exultation, however, succeeded to Melliphant's displeasure, since he found it had procured him the privilege of taking charge of Rosilia. The
