and not more for Rosilia were these alarms excited than for Oriana, whom they perceived had evidently lost of late a part of her characteristic animation. It was with deep concern they saw each bury her juvenile prime, accomplishments, and merits in continual solitude.
How gladly would they have resigned one, or both alternately, to Mrs. Arden, during the winter months; they had fondly hoped she would have made the offer of having either of her nieces occasionally with her. The General could only suppose that since the demise of Sir Aubrey and Lady De Brooke, having no longer their countenance, she had been obliged to retract her former kindness to his children, in order to yield herself to the implicit guidance of Mr. Arden, who, in espousing her, might insinuate he had not espoused the cause of her family, and was in no way bound to support it.
Thus delicately situated as seemed his sister, the General relinquished the idea of his daughters receiving any advantage from her future beneficence. He, therefore, with Mrs. De Brooke, determined to afford them a change of scene, and to diversify the monotony of their existence by passing the winter in London.
News so unexpected, when communicated to the
