heart had never yielded to sentiments of attachment for Douglas. How much were they mistaken! far from being pleased, how pained would they have been, had they been able to unravel the web, in the foldings of which lay concealed the real feelings of Rosilia; had they known, that he whom she thus refused, had been long the intimate associate of her every thought; that his image was engraved upon her fancy, and that every sigh breathed in secret was for him! How would the sublimity of her principles have risen upon their view, and how, in their fond approbation of the sacrifice of feeling she was making, would they have mingled the soul-harrowing idea of their broken fortunes, which thus consigned her virtues to inevitable obscurity!
That hour, so impatiently awaited by Douglas, that important hour at last arrived. Full of ardent expectation, indulging the most encouraging hopes, he hastened to the dwelling which contained the mistress of his soul. He was ushered into the drawing-room, where the family had assembled with visitors: his eye instantaneously caught that of Rosilia; her confusion was obvious: scarcely more able to control himself, he, however, advanced with that grace and ease by which no one perhaps was ever more distinguished. After pay-
